Can I donate blood in Cyprus?
It depends: usually yes, if you meet the health criteria. Blood collection is coordinated by the Blood Centre / National Blood Centre (Ministry of Health), with the Red Cross running drives. A health questionnaire and screening come first. Common criteria: age 18–65 (some sources cite an upper limit of 60 — unverified), minimum weight 50 kg. Intervals between donations differ by sex. Temporary deferrals apply (recent illness, travel to risk areas, recent tattoo/piercing, pregnancy, some medications). Note: the Karaiskakio Foundation runs the bone-marrow registry, which is distinct from blood donation. In short: yes, if you pass the screening.
📋 The rules
- Coordination: Blood Centre + Red Cross
- Age 18–65 (upper limit 60: unverified)
- Minimum weight 50 kg
- Health questionnaire & screening first
- Temporary deferrals apply
🔓 Exceptions
- Donation intervals differ by sex (unverified)
- Permanent deferrals for certain chronic conditions/risks
- Karaiskakio = bone marrow, not blood donation
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no "fine": donation is voluntary. The screening and deferrals exist for donor and recipient safety — e.g. recent infection, travel to malaria-risk areas, a recent tattoo/piercing, pregnancy or certain medications may mean temporary ineligibility. Beware a myth: "a tattoo bars me forever" is false — it's usually a temporary deferral. Note: the exact upper age limit (60 or 65), intervals by sex and specific deferral periods couldn't be confirmed here. Tip: check the criteria with the Red Cross or Blood Centre before you go.
📎 Official sources
- Cyprus Red Cross · blood donation →
- Karaiskakio Foundation (bone marrow) →
- EUR-Lex · Directive 2002/98/EC →
❓ Frequently asked
Who can donate blood?
Usually people aged 18 to 65, with a minimum weight of 50 kg, who pass the health questionnaire and screening before donation. Some sources cite an upper limit of 60, but the exact limit couldn't be confirmed here, so check before you attend a session.
How often can I donate?
Intervals between donations differ by sex, and men can usually donate more frequently than women. The exact intervals couldn't be confirmed here, so check them with the Blood Centre or the Red Cross before scheduling your next donation appointment.
Does a tattoo bar me?
Usually not permanently. A recent tattoo or piercing typically leads to a temporary deferral for a period, for safety reasons. After that period you can usually donate blood, provided you meet the other health criteria for donation at the time.
What are the temporary deferrals?
Temporary deferrals apply for recent illness or infection, travel to malaria-risk areas, a recent tattoo or piercing, pregnancy and certain medications. Permanent deferrals apply for some chronic cardiovascular or blood conditions and transmissible-disease risks, for safety.
Is it the same as bone-marrow donation?
No. Blood donation is different from bone-marrow donation. The bone-marrow donor registry is kept by the Karaiskakio Foundation, while blood collection is coordinated by the Blood Centre and the Red Cross. These are separate procedures with separate registries.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “blood donation cyprus”
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- “red cross blood donation cyprus”