Preferences and permissions
Here you will find all the information about the preferences and permissions relating to your donation.
Thank you for being, or considering becoming, a donor. Your donation helps us treat patients.
With your blood, plasma and/or platelets, you help patients. We aim to make the best possible use of your donation, including any residual blood that remains after all necessary testing has been completed. It is important that you understand the choices you make when becoming a donor. That is why we agree clear arrangements together and record them for future reference.
We make this process as simple as possible: digitally whenever we can, and in person when needed. You can always ask questions about any aspect of donating that you would like to know more about. On this page, you can read more about these arrangements and the permissions you can provide.
Permissions
When you become a donor, we agree how your donations may be used. You also record your preferences, for example whether you would like to take part in scientific research. Until now, you have provided permission for the use of your donation at each appointment. From now on, your preferences and permissions will be stored in MijnSanquin. You only need to complete them once, and you can view them at any time in your MijnSanquin account.
MijnSanquin is currently available in Dutch only. For donors who prefer English, an English paper version of the preferences and permissions is available at all Sanquin locations.
Some preferences only need to be provided once. These include:
- Confirming that you are aware of the arrangements between you and Sanquin regarding the use of your donation.
- Your preferences regarding the use of part of your donation for research and development.
- Your preferences regarding the use of any residual blood remaining after donation and testing.
For each donation appointment, Sanquin will still ask for separate permission for that specific donor health assessment and donation.
Surplus blood
You donate blood, platelets or plasma with the expectation that it may help a patient directly. But sometimes your donation can do valuable work even before that. If you give permission, your blood, or part of it, can also be used to support research that may ultimately save lives.
Researchers from universities, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies can apply to Sanquin to use blood, or components of blood, for research purposes. For some studies, we invite specific donors to take part. For other purposes, you can provide general permission in advance.
Before October 2026, you could already give general permission for the use of your donation by hospitals and universities, known as non-commercial organisations. In your preferences, you can now also choose to give general permission for the use of surplus blood by commercial organisations, such as companies that develop medicines or manufacture and test medical devices for healthcare.
MijnSanquin
It would be a great help if you could record your preferences online before your next appointment. If you do not yet have a MijnSanquin account, please create one so that you can view and complete your preferences in advance.
Please note that MijnSanquin is currently available in Dutch only. It is important that you understand the arrangements between you and Sanquin that are set out in this statement. If Dutch is not your first language, an English paper version of the preferences and permissions is available at all Sanquin locations for donors who prefer English or do not have sufficient command of Dutch to fully understand the text.