Frequently Asked Questions

General blood donation FAQs

  • To be eligible to donate blood for our research you must be:

    - Over 18 years of age

    - No personal history of cancer

    - Not be pregnant or lactating

  • Yes, we are particularly interested in collecting samples from people with other gynaecological conditions as this will help us develop a test that is very specific to ovarian cancer.

  • It is a once-off blood donation of 50-80mLs of blood and a short questionnaire which should take about 30 minutes. The questionnaire captures some information regarding some lifestyle factors such as exercise habits. All information collected is deidentified and confidential. There are no further time commitments following the blood donation.

  • At the moment, we can only collect blood at the Lowy Cancer Research Centre, at the University of New South Wales located on the corner of High St & Botany St, Kensington NSW 2052. We will meet you in the lobby of the building on the day.

  • We will book in a time with you to come and donate blood at UNSW. The best times are Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. If these times are not convenient, we can arrange a time outside these hours.

  • For our research we ask for 50-80mLs of blood. For comparison the Australia Red Cross take about 400mLs but a standard blood test at a medical practice is about 20mLs. We are also guided by you and how you’re feeling and are happy to take less on the day.

  • There are no fasting requirements prior to blood donation for our research. We recommend you eat and drink normally throughout the day. We do ask, if possible, to avoid intense physical activity 2 hours prior to donation.

  • The best way to get in contact with us is through our email address: earlydetection@unsw.edu.au

COVID-19 FAQs

  • No, you do not need to test before coming in to donate blood. However, in line with the UNSW campus guidelines, please do not attend your blood donation appointment if you are feeling unwell. If you have any symptoms or are feeling unwell, please let us know and we will reschedule your appointment.

  • You may donate blood once you have been symptom free for 7 days.

  • Current UNSW COVID-19 restrictions do not currently require the use of face masks in this setting, however, this is subject to change in response to COVID-19 surges. We respect your personal preference to wear or not wear a mask during the blood collection.

  • UNSW is following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. For more information go to: www.covid-19.unsw.edu.au. Our Ovarian Cancer Early Detection team are fully vaccinated and will be wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the blood collection. Based on guidelines, the blood donation room has a density limit of 1 person/2 sqm, and the room will be thoroughly cleaned before and after each donor.

  • We are happy to discuss any concerns you may have on an individual basis.

To make an appointment, contact:

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