Mein Blut: a mobile app that digitalises blood donation

Mein Blut (English: “My Blood”) is a blood donation app developed by the Austrian Red Cross. It is fully available in Upper Austria, with features gradually expanding to other regions. The app is accessible on both Android and iOS, offering increased efficiency and transparency for both regular and first-time donors.

Through the app, donors can locate nearby blood drives, schedule appointments, and complete the required medical questionnaire in advance. It also provides a digital donor pass, information on current donation eligibility, and a comprehensive record of all laboratory tests, including an ISO 15189-compliant medical report.

At its blood bank in Upper Austria, the Austrian Red Cross is witnessing a steadily increasing demand for blood products. At the same time, however, the number of first-time donors has declined in recent years, and the average age of regular donors has risen.

To engage younger donors, it is essential to modernize the blood donation experience. The Austrian Red Cross’s digitalization initiative aims to streamline blood donation and the associated processes. Given that medical and sensitive data are involved, special security measures are required, and strict legal data protection requirements must be met. Developing a solution that successfully addresses these challenges is an achievement in itself. The mobile app is optional for donors and available free of charge.

The app is installed on the donor’s smartphone and guides them throughout the donation process, providing access to all relevant information. A secure central backend ensures the app’s safety through two-factor authentication. This backend can connect to multiple donor centers and retrieve data from donation systems in real time. Sensitive information remains within the blood donation systems, while data stored in the backend and on the user’s device is kept to an absolute minimum. Access to sensitive data is strictly controlled and requires verification.

The app has been fully deployed in Upper Austria, while other Austrian provinces continue to activate additional features. User feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with new features regularly requested and developed. To date, there are over 115,000 registered users, and more than 72% of donors complete the questionnaire on their smartphones. This solution has transformed the way the Austrian Red Cross communicates with donors, streamlined internal processes, and introduced cost-effective efficiencies.