Donating Blood in Rome: Where to Go, What to Expect, and What You Get

In a nutshell

Donating blood in Rome is free, voluntary, and legally anonymous (Legge 219/2005). You can do it at 14 public hospital transfusion centres or through associations like AVIS, FIDAS, CRI (Italian Red Cross), and Fratres. In return you get a comprehensive free blood panel worth over €100 on the open market, a complimentary breakfast at the centre, and — if you're an employee — 24 hours of fully paid leave on the day you donate.

At a glance

Cost	Free for the donor. Included tests (full blood count, HIV, hepatitis B & C, syphilis, cholesterol, blood sugar) have a commercial value of over €100.
Time commitment	Whole blood: 30–45 min total. Plasmapheresis: 45–60 min. Plateletpheresis: 60–90 min. Lab results: 7–30 days.
Where in Rome	14 hospital transfusion centres. AVIS Comunale Roma: Lungotevere Marzio 5 (06 6833 4310). Centro Nazionale Sangue ISS: Via Giano della Bella 34 (06 4990 4855).
Documents	Valid photo ID + Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID — your personal 16-character code, used for almost everything) / health card.

What you can donate and how often

There are several types of donation, each with its own rules:

• Whole blood (450 ml, 8–10 minutes): every 3 months for men, every 6 months for women of childbearing age (max twice a year).
• Plasmapheresis (plasma only, 600–700 ml): every 14 days, max 24 times a year.
• Plateletpheresis (platelets only): every 30 days, max 6 times a year.
• Multi-component apheresis (combination of red cells, plasma, or platelets): every 90–180 days depending on the combination.
• Cord blood donation: at the time of delivery, at authorised hospitals (Umberto I, Gemelli, San Camillo, Bambino Gesù, Sant'Eugenio).

The blood you donate goes to cancer patients on chemotherapy, thalassaemia patients (who need transfusions every 2–4 weeks), haemophiliacs, surgical patients, women with complicated caesarean deliveries, and transplant recipients.

Who can donate

Basic eligibility requirements (DM 2/11/2015, Decreto Lorenzin 2014):

• Age: 18–65 for whole blood; up to 70 if you're already a regular donor; plasmapheresis up to 70.
• Weight: at least 50 kg.
• Blood pressure: systolic 110–180 mmHg, diastolic 60–100 mmHg.
• Haemoglobin: women above 12.5 g/dL; men above 13.5 g/dL.
• Generally good health.

Foreign residents in Italy who have lived here continuously for at least 6 months (some centres accept 4 months) can donate, provided they have a valid Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens) and can complete the questionnaire in Italian. Blood from certain rare ethnic groups is particularly sought after for patients with haemoglobin disorders.

Some circumstances mean you must wait before donating: fever or flu (14 days), antibiotics (7–30 days), tattoos, piercings, or acupuncture (4 months — even if done at a professional studio), pregnancy and breastfeeding (suspension plus 12 months after delivery), travel to malaria-endemic areas (6 months), minor surgery (1 month). After an mRNA COVID vaccine there is no waiting period if you're asymptomatic (updated criteria, 2023).

Permanent exclusions include HIV-positive status, hepatitis B (HBsAg+) or hepatitis C, ever injecting drugs intravenously, insulin-dependent diabetes, and major heart conditions.

How a donation works

The morning of your donation: eat a light breakfast (coffee, juice, plain crackers), drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol the night before and smoking before the draw. Bring your photo ID and health card.

At the transfusion centre you check in at the desk, fill in a medical questionnaire (about 15 minutes), and see the transfusion doctor for an eligibility check: blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and a small capillary sample to measure haemoglobin.

The draw for whole blood takes 8–10 minutes in a reclining chair. For plasmapheresis or plateletpheresis, a machine separates the components and reinfuses the rest — this takes 35–90 minutes.

After donating you rest for 10–15 minutes, enjoy the complimentary breakfast provided by the centre, and receive your instructions: no intense physical exertion for 24 hours, drink plenty of fluids, no alcohol for 4–6 hours.

Your samples go to the lab. Results — full blood count, HIV, hepatitis B & C, syphilis, liver enzymes, blood sugar, cholesterol — come back within 7–30 days by post or email, or you can check them in your online account. If anything abnormal shows up, the centre contacts you directly and confidentially.

Where to donate in Rome

Hospital transfusion centres are generally open Mon–Sat mornings (7:30–11:00). Always call ahead to confirm hours and book your slot.

Centre	Hospital	Address	Phone
Umberto I	Policlinico Umberto I	Viale del Policlinico 155	06 4997 0890
Gemelli	Policlinico Gemelli	Largo Gemelli 8 (Pad. Q, floor -1)	06 3015 4424
San Camillo	San Camillo-Forlanini	Circ. Gianicolense 87	06 5870 4426
Sant'Eugenio	Sant'Eugenio	Piazzale dell'Umanesimo 10	06 5100 4308
Bambino Gesù	Bambino Gesù	Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4	06 6859 2270
Sant'Andrea	Sant'Andrea	Via di Grottarossa 1035	06 3377 5311
Tor Vergata	Policlinico Tor Vergata	Viale Oxford 81	06 2090 3253
San Giovanni	San Giovanni Addolorata	Via dell'Amba Aradam 9	06 7705 5474
Sandro Pertini	S. Pertini	Via dei Monti Tiburtini 385	06 4143 3506
Spallanzani	INMI Spallanzani	Via Portuense 292	06 5517 0240
Fatebenefratelli	Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina	Via Ponte Quattro Capi 39	06 6837 3110

To book with AVIS Comunale Roma: Lungotevere Marzio 5 — tel. 06 6833 4310 — avisroma.it — or use the DonatoriH24 app. For FIDAS Lazio: Via Cipro 18 — tel. 06 3974 6027.

AVIS, FIDAS, and CRI also run mobile blood units at piazzas, universities, and workplaces — check the calendar at avisroma.it.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Don't skip breakfast altogether. You need a light meal beforehand — donating on an empty stomach significantly increases the risk of dizziness afterwards.
2. Don't lie on the questionnaire. You are legally responsible for your answers (Legge 219/2005, art. 22), and inaccurate information can directly endanger whoever receives your blood.
3. Don't donate within 4 months of a tattoo or piercing, even if done at a professional studio. This is an absolute safety rule to protect recipients — no exceptions.

Special cases

First-time donors: your first donation is whole blood only — no apheresis. Your blood type is determined and a full screening is carried out.

Autologous donation: if you're scheduled for surgery, you can have your own blood drawn and stored 7–30 days beforehand for use during the operation. This requires a prescription from your surgeon.

Umbilical cord blood donation: done at the time of delivery at authorised hospitals. The stem cells are frozen for use in haematological treatments. Enrolling in the national programme is free, and you sign up before the 36th week of pregnancy.

Bone marrow donor registry (IBMDR): registration requires only a simple blood draw for HLA typing. The age range for joining is 18–35. If you match a patient, donation almost always happens via peripheral apheresis.

Paid day off: if you are an employee (public or private sector), you are entitled to 24 hours of fully paid leave on the day of donation, with INPS (Italy's social-security agency) notional contributions accruing (Legge 219/2005, art. 8). The centre issues your certificate on the spot.

Official sources

• Centro Nazionale Sangue (ISS)
• Centro Nazionale Sangue — For citizens
• AVIS Lazio Roma
• AVIS Comunale Roma
• FIDAS Nazionale
• Croce Rossa Italiana
• Salute Lazio — Transfusion services
• Policlinico Umberto I
• Policlinico Gemelli
• IBMDR — Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Legal references: Legge 21/10/2005 n. 219, D.Lgs. 261/2007, DM 3/03/2005, DM 2/11/2015, Decreto Lorenzin 23/05/2014, Accordo Stato-Regioni 24/04/2018, Legge 4/05/1990 n. 107.