Objective: There is limited literature in the Indian subcontinent on the attitude of the medical personnel regarding blood donation. The purpose of the present study was to identify and assess the barriers that prevent people from becoming blood donors and also to devise recruitment strategies to increase the blood collection. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre with attached medical college in Tamilnadu amongst Seven hundred and fifty medical personnel. A self administered questionnaire was used for data collection from each individual. Results: Amongst the 750 medical personnel under study, 470 were never donors and 280 were lapsed donors. The foremost reason for not donating blood among lapsed donors and non donors was never being asked again. Conclusion: Donors often donate blood once and rarely return to make a second or subsequent donation. Further education, motivation and dissemination of information would help in recruitment and retention of non-remunerated blood donors. © 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.