It is our responsibility to protect the health of our blood donors and to assure the safety of the blood supply. Therefore, a donor’s general health is evaluated at the time of each donation. High or low blood pressure may defer a donor. Low hemoglobin (iron) content in the blood is also cause for temporary deferral. Tests will be performed at the time of donation.

The most common eligibility guidelines are listed below.

Basic Requirements

• Be in generally good health and feeling well
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Be 17 years of age—there is no upper limit
• There may be additional requirements for some apheresis donations

Donation Frequency

• Whole blood donors may donate every 56 days
• Platelet donors may donate every 48 hours (donors are scheduled every two weeks)
• Plasma donors may donate every 4 weeks
• Red cell apheresis donors may donate every 112 days

Individuals at risk for AIDS must not donate blood
Do not donate blood if you have ever tested positive for HIV or if You have ever injected yourself with drugs not prescribed by a physician.

Medical Conditions

• Allergies — can donate if no infection present
• Arthritis — can donate if no redness, pain or swelling at the time of donation
• Asthma — can donate if no symptoms
• Blood disorders or bleeding tendencies — cannot donate
• Brain or spinal surgery that required a transplant of brain covering (dura mater) — cannot donate
• Cancer
  Basal cell, squamous cell skin cancers — can donate when removed and healed
• Colds, fever, flu
  Cold, flu, sore throat, cough, respiratory infection — can donate if no symptoms
• Diabetes — can donate if stable
• Heart Attack — can donate after one year if no symptoms and no heart medication (Aspirin is okay)
• Heart Surgery such as coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), stent or angioplasty — can donate after one year if no symptoms and no heart medication (Aspirin is okay)
• Hepatitis
  Hepatitis or undiagnosed jaundice after age 10 — cannot donate
  Hepatitis at age 10 or younger — can donate if no known positive confirmed test results for Hepatitis B surface antigen, or known Hepatitis C
  Positive hepatitis test — cannot donate
• Major/minor surgery — can donate after healed and released from MD care and reason permits
• Pregnancy — can donate 6 weeks after delivery
• Strokes — can donate after 1 yr. if stable and on no stroke medications (Aspirin is OK)

Medications

• Allergy medication — can donate
• Antibiotics — can donate 24 hours after last dose if no symptoms of infection; no wait if taken for prevention
• Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin and Naprosyn — cannot take for 24 hrs before a platelet (“Super”) donation
• Aspirin — containing products, Feldene and Lodine XL — cannot take for 36 hours before a platelet (“Super”) donation
• Blood pressure medication — can donate if blood pressure is stable
• Depression medication — can donate
• Diuretics — can donate
• Diabetic medication
  Oral or insulin — can donate if condition is stable
  Injected bovine (beef) insulin since 1980 — cannot donate
• Diet pills — can donate
• Birth control pills — can donate
• Female hormone pills — can donate
• Steroids — can donate 2 weeks after last dose and no symptoms
• Tegison — cannot donate if ever taken
• Thyroid medication — can donate if stabilized

Immunizations

• Polio, mumps, rubeola (a type of measles) — can donate after 2 weeks
• Rubella (a type of measles) — can donate after 4 weeks
• Smallpox vaccination or physical contact with another's unhealed vaccination — can donate after 2 months and no signs or symptoms of vaccinia
• Tetanus, diphtheria, flu, Hepatitis B — can donate if no reaction

Other Possible Restrictions

• Body/ear piercing/acupuncture — can donate if done with a sterile, single use needle/equipment or with a piercing gun using single use studs, otherwise, after 1 year
• Dental work
  Cleaning, fillings — can donate next day
  Root canal — can donate 3 days after completion
  Tooth extraction — can donate 3 days after extraction, healed and no infection
• Hepatitis exposure — needs evaluation
• Tattoo — can donate after 1 year