Some people who donate blood feel uncomfortable, weak, anxious, dizzy, nauseous and might even faint. These experiences can put donors off donating again which is a pity and a loss for the blood service. Women are more likely to have these reactions than men, and factors like being young, having a low body weight, or donating blood for the first time can increase the chances of this happening. What we are not sure of is if our genes also play a role in all of this. Our research study aims to find this out. To do this we’ll look at the genes of blood donors and see if they have a link to, or can even predict if, someone has an uncomfortable experience donating blood. We're working closely with the blood service - NHS Blood and Transplant and we will share our findings quickly. Our goal is to make blood donation safer and more comfortable for everyone. This research could lead to better ways to prevent these uncomfortable experiences from happening to blood donors.
