Hong Kong Blood Donation: Where To Donate Blood

Blood donation is an extremely simple way to make a very real impact in Hong Kong.

Before you head to your nearest Red Cross blood donation centre, it helps to have some practical, insider information. Our guide is based on the latest information from the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (HKRCBTS), as well as our personal experience as blood donors.

Even if you aren’t eligible to donate blood, there are other ways you can help. For patients with leukaemia and other serious blood diseases finding a suitably matched donor can be incredibly difficult. While you’re at the Blood Bank, pop your details down and register as a potential bone marrow or stem cell donor. It only takes 10 minutes!

Editor’s Note: Donation criteria can change, so always check your eligibility with the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service directly.

Jump To:
Who Can Donate Blood In Hong Kong?
Where To Go For Blood Donation In Hong Kong
What To Expect When Donating Blood
How To Register As A Bone Marrow Donor In Hong Kong

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Who Can Donate Blood In Hong Kong?

To donate blood in Hong Kong, first-time donors generally need to:

• Be aged 16 to 65
• Weigh at least 41kg
• Be in good health

There are additional eligibility rules covering recent illness and travel, vaccinations, medical conditions and medication. You can use the Red Cross online eligibility test as a starting point, but a “yes” answer does not necessarily mean you can’t donate. If you’re unsure, call the Blood Transfusion Service on 2710 1333 during office hours or speak to the team at a donor centre.

Sassy Mama Tip: One of our editors was initially told by email that a regular medication made her ineligible to give blood. When she later visited a donor centre, a nurse reviewed the medication more closely and confirmed that she could, in fact, donate. If your circumstances aren’t clear-cut, it can be worth asking for a more detailed assessment.

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Where To Go For Blood Donation In Hong Kong

There are blood donation centres across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, as well as mobile blood donation services around the city. The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service keeps an up-to-date list of locations, opening hours and waiting times, so it’s worth checking before you set off.

Sassy Mama Tip: We visited the Kwun Tong Donor Centre, just by Kwun Tong MTR, and found it incredibly easy to get to. The staff were friendly, welcoming and happy to talk through any questions we had.

What To Expect When Donating Blood

Donating blood in Hong Kong is pretty straightforward, but a little preparation helps. Eat within four hours of your donation, drink plenty of water and wear something with loose sleeves that can be rolled above your elbow. You’ll also need your HKID card or a valid travel document when you register.

Once you arrive, you’ll:

• Fill in a blood donation registration form with details about your health and medical history.
• Have a private consultation with a nurse.
• Have your haemoglobin (Hb), blood pressure and pulse checked.
• Settle into the donation chair while the team prepares your arm and collects your blood.

The actual blood donation (the bit with the needles) usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, you’ll rest for a little while and can help yourself to the snacks and drinks provided before heading off. All up, you’ll need to allow around 45 to 60 minutes for the whole visit. In other words, it’s very doable on a lunch break.

Sassy Mama Tip: Once you’ve made a whole blood donation, it’s worth asking whether plasma or platelet donation are options. Known as apheresis, the machine collects the plasma and/or platelets and returns the remaining blood components to your body. If your haemoglobin tends to sit towards the lower end of the accepted range, it may be worth considering.

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How To Register As A Bone Marrow Donor In Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Bone Marrow Donor Registry helps match people who need a haematopoietic stem cell transplant with unrelated donors in Hong Kong and overseas. These transplants can be used to treat leukaemia and other serious blood diseases, affecting both adults and children.

Finding a donor isn’t as simple as matching blood types. You’re more likely to match someone with a similar genetic background. Even then, the odds can be tiny. The Hong Kong registry estimates the chance of matching an unrelated person at around 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 for a common HLA type, and less than 1 in 100,000 for a rare type.

Joining the register is simple. If you’re 18 to 50 and in good health, you can register at a Hong Kong Red Cross blood donor centre, complete a health screening and provide a small blood sample for HLA testing. You only need to register once and it takes around 15-20 minutes total.

And what if one day you get the call? Donation can happen in one of two ways. Peripheral blood stem cell donation is non-surgical and works a little like an extended plasma donation, with a few more meds. The other option is a bone marrow harvest, where marrow is collected from the pelvic bone under general anaesthetic. The transplant team will recommend the best method for the patient, but the donor is involved in that decision.

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Editor’s Note: This article was most recently updated in September, 2026 by Jessica Mizzi