From the moment you walk into the donation center to the moment you leave, you should plan for about 45–60 minutes, depending on how busy the center is.

Approximate breakdown:

·       Registration and health questionnaire: 10–15 minutes.

·       Basic health check (blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin): 5–10 minutes.

·       Actual blood draw: 8–10 minutes for a standard whole‑blood donation.

·       Rest and refreshments after donation: 10–15 minutes.

The part where blood is actually taken is surprisingly short; most of the time is for safety checks and post‑donation rest.