From September 29 to October 1, Lviv hosted the first training for regional managers of the My Blood Type project, launched by the DonorUA platform in cooperation with Eldon Biologicals and Operation SafeDrop. 10 medical volunteers learned how to determine blood types using the innovative EldonCard method, which takes only 2-3 minutes, and practiced their skills with more than 400 people.

"Within this project, we aim to draw the attention of as many people as possible to the blood donation. Many Ukrainians don't even think about how many lives they can save just by being themselves and having a certain blood type. At the same time, many Ukrainians do not know their blood type or are not sure about it. Using their own experience, we tell people what blood is capable of, especially during a full-scale war," comments Iryna Slavinska, co-founder of DonorUA and President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Blood Donors of Ukraine.

On September 29, the training took place at the Eurohotel (Lviv, 6A Tershakovtsiv St.), where instructors taught medical volunteers to determine blood types using the EldonCard system. Liudmyla Lynnyk, Head of the DonorUA Project Department, told the participants how to use the donor's account on the platform and how to attract people to register in the donor pool.

"The EldonCard blood type determination method is designed to ensure that anyone who receives the kit and reads the instructions can easily determine the blood type of another person, even if they have never done it before. This is a very simple and accessible method that does not require a medical degree. The kit is easy-to-use, does not require special storage rules, and allows you to determine the blood type anywhere, including in the field, in a couple of minutes," says Lyudmyla Lynnyk.

On September 30 and October 1, the training participants practiced their newly acquired knowledge by determining blood types at Rynok Square and Victoria Gardens shopping center in Lviv. After finding out their blood type, Lviv residents and visitors could immediately register with DonorUA to receive notifications when blood of a certain group is needed. In total, more than 400 people went through the procedure. The DonorUA team, together with its partners, organizes training for medics from all regions, than they will be able to train their colleagues to work with EldonCard. In the course of the project, up to 5 million civilians will have their blood types determined, and combat medics are to be provided with the necessary number of test cards to check their blood type as soon as possible in case of injury. The My Blood Type/WBB project is about effective care: the more civilians know their blood type and the more medical professionals can quickly determine it, that higher chances of timely and successful blood transfusions for patients we have.

For reference:

DonorUA is NGO and the only professional digital system for recruiting and navigating blood donors in Ukraine. It supports the work of 22 blood centers, cooperates with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, EU institutions, WHO, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Global Blood Fund. More than 7,000 patients have received targeted help through the platform, and it takes no more than 20 minutes to find a donor for a specific patient.

Operation SafeDrop is a project of the MAD Foundation aimed at supporting Ukraine and people here. The initiative covers such areas as civilian evacuation, humanitarian aid, assistance to communities in building shelters, restoration of critical infrastructure after the war, and free blood group determination throughout Ukraine.

Eldon Biologicals is a Danish manufacturer of EldonCard blood group test cards. The testing system is based on the use of special formulations of selected monoclonal antibodies. EldonCard tests are ISO-certified and CE-marked in the EU, approved by the FDA in the USA and registered with the relevant authorities in a number of other countries. Eldon Biologicals also holds the distinction of being an approved NATO vendor.