BLOOD DONATION ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
GENERAL GUIDELINES
To give blood for transfusion to another person, you must be healthy, be at
least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in
the last 56 days. "Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform
normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high
blood pressure, "healthy" also means that you are being treated and
the condition is under control.
Other aspects of each potential donor's health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and blood count (hemoglobin or hematocrit) are measured.
Making donations for your own use during surgery (autologous blood donation) is considered a medical procedure and the rules for eligibility are less strict than for regular volunteer donations.
Accupuncture
Donors who have undergone acupuncture treatments are acceptable as long as the
donor can confirm that the needles used in the treatment were sterile. Donors
who cannot confirm that sterile needles were used in the acupuncture treatment
are deferred from donating for 12 months.
Age
You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply. Learn
more about the reasons for a lower age limit. There is no upper age limit
for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations
to your activities.
Allergy, Stuffy Nose, Itchy Eyes, Dry Cough
Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever, and have no problems
breathing through your mouth
Antibiotics
Wait 2 days after finishing antibiotics for an infection (bacterial or viral).
Acceptable if you are taking antibiotics to prevent an infection, for example,
following dental procedures or for acne. Antibiotics for acne do not
disqualify you from donating. If you have a temperature above 99.5 F, you may
not donate until the fever is passed.
Aspirin
See “Medications”
Asthma
Acceptable as long as you are not having difficulty breathing at the time of
donation and you otherwise feel well. Medications for asthma do not disqualify
you from donating.
Autoimmune Diseases
You are not eligible to donate if you have some types of generalized
autoimmune disease including systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple
sclerosis.
Birth Control
Women taking birth control pills are acceptable.
Blood Pressure, High
Acceptable as long as your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number)
and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of donation. Medications
for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating.
Blood Pressure, Low
Acceptable as long as you feel well when you come to donate. If your blood
pressure normally runs low, it may be more difficult for your body to adjust
to the volume loss following donation, especially if you are dehydrated.
Drinking extra water before and after donation is important.
Blood Transfusion
Wait for 12 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in
the United States. You may not donate if you received a transfusion since 1980
in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel
Islands, Isle of Man), Gibraltar or Falkland Islands. This requirement is
related to concerns about variant CJD, or 'mad cow' disease. Learn
more about variant CJD and blood donation.
Cancer
Acceptable if the cancer was treated with only surgery or radiation, and it
has been at least 5 years since treatment was completed with no cancer
recurrence. If your cancer was treated with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or
immunotherapy, you are not eligible to donate. If you had leukemia or
lymphoma, including Hodgkins Disease, you are not eligible to donate. Some
low-risk cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin do not
require a 5 year waiting period.
Precancerous conditions of the uterine cervix do not disqualify you from donation if the abnormality has been treated successfully.
You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.
Cholesterol, high
Acceptable. Medications to lower the cholesterol level do not disqualify you
from donating.
Chronic Illnesses
Most chronic illnesses are acceptable as long as you feel well, the condition
is under good control, you have an adequate hemoglobin level and your
temperature is normal when you come to donate. Chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, ulcerative colitis and
Crohn's Disease do not automatically disqualify you from donating. You should
discuss your condition with the health historian at the time of donation.
Clotting Disorders
If your blood does not clot normally, you should not donate since you may have
excessive bleeding where the needle was placed. For the same reason, if you
are taking any "blood thinner" ( such as coumadin or heparin)you
should not donate. If you are on aspirin, it is OK to donate blood. However,
you must be off of aspirin for at least 36 hours in order donate platelets by
apheresis.
Cocaine
Wait 12 months after using cocaine or other street drugs through your nose
before attempting to donate blood. This requirement is related to concerns
about hepatitis and HIV. Learn
more about hepatitis and blood donation.
Cold, Flu, Sore Throat
Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough (bringing up phlegm)
Wait if you feel unwell on the day of donation.
Wait 2 days after you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or
lung infection.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
If you ever received a corneal (eye) transplant, a dura mater (brain covering)
transplant or human pituitary growth hormone, you are not eligible to donate.
Those who have a close blood relative who had Creutzfeld-Jacob disease or who
is in a family that has been told they have a genetic risk for Creutzfeld-Jacob
disease are also not eligible to donate. Learn
more about CJD.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Variant (vCJD);
"Mad Cow Disease"
See under Travel Outside of U.S. Learn
more about vCJD and blood donation.
Dental Procedures
Acceptable after teeth cleaning, scaling, root canal, fillings and tooth
extractions as long as there is no infection present.
Wait for 3 days after having other types of oral surgery, or after treatment
for an abscess or infection in the mouth.
Wait 2 days after finishing antibiotics for a dental infection.
Depression, Anxiety
Acceptable as long as you feel well and comfortable with the blood donation
process. Medications for depression or anxiety do not disqualify you from
donating.
Diabetes mellitus
Acceptable two weeks after starting insulin.
Medications to lower your glucose level do not disqualify you from donating.
Those who since 1980, received an injection of bovine (beef) insulin made from
cattle from the United Kingdom are not eligible to donate. This requirement is
related to concerns about variant CJD, or 'mad cow' disease. Learn
more about variant CJD and blood donation.
Donation Intervals
Wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood (standard) donations.
Wait at least 3 days between plateletpheresis donations.
Wait at least 16 weeks between double red cell (automated) donations.
Epilepsy, Seizures
Acceptable as long as you have been seizure-free for the last 3 months.
Medications for seizures do not disqualify you from donating.
Heart Disease
In general , acceptable as long as you have no restrictions on your physical
activities, take no medications for heart disease other than aspirin, and have
no current ( within the last 6 months) heart-related symptoms such as chest
pain.
Wait at least 6 months following an episode of angina.
Wait at least 6 months following a heart attack.
Wait at least 6 months after bypass surgery or angioplasty.
If you have a pacemaker, you may donate as long as your pulse is between 50
and 100 beats per minute with no more than a small number of irregular beats,
and you meet the other heart disease criteria. You should discuss your
particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.
Heart Murmur, Heart Valve Disorder
Acceptable if you have a heart murmur as long as you have not had symptoms in
the last 6 months, have no restrictions on your physical activity and are not
taking any medications for heart disease other than prophylactic antibiotics
(to prevent infections) or aspirin.
Hemochromatosis
American Red Cross does not accept individuals with hemochromatosis as blood
donors for other persons at this time. Red Cross will continually re-evaluate
this policy as more information accumulates.
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count
Acceptable if you have a hemoglobin at or above 12.5 g/dL.
Acceptable if you have a hematocrit at or above 38%.
Hepatitis, Jaundice
If you had hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a virus, or
unexplained jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin), since age 11, you are
not eligible to donate blood. This includes those who had hepatitis with
infectious mononucleosis.
Acceptable if you had jaundice or hepatitis caused by something other than a viral infection, for example: medications, Gilbert's disease, bile duct obstruction, alcohol, gallstones or trauma to the liver.
If you ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C , at any age, you are not eligible to donate, even if you were never sick or jaundiced from the infection.
Hepatitis Exposure
Wait 12 months after close contact with someone who is sick with viral
hepatitis. Close contact is defined as sexual contact or sharing the same
household, kitchen, dormitory, or toilet facilities.
Wait 12 months after detention in a correctional institution or residence in a long-term psychiatric institution.
Wait 12 months after receiving a blood transfusion (unless it was your own “autologous” blood, blood injections, tattoo, non-sterile needle stick/body piercing or exposure to someone else's blood.
Wait 12 months following a human bite, if it broke the skin.
Wait 12 months after using cocaine or other street drugs through your nose.
Herpes
Acceptable as long as you are feeling well.
HIV, AIDS
Those who are at increased risk for becoming infected with HIV are not
eligible to donate blood. According to the Food and Drug Administration, you
are at increased risk if:
Wait for 12 months after close contact with someone who is at an increased risk for HIV infection. This occurs when paying to have sex, as a result of rape, or when having sex with an IV drug user.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRP)
Women on hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms and prevention of
osteoporosis are eligible to donate.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
See “Venereal Diseases”
Hypertension, High Blood Pressure
See “Blood Pressure, High
Immunization, Vaccination
Acceptable if you were vaccinated for influenza, tetanus or meningitis,
providing you are symptom-free and fever-free.
Wait 4 weeks after immunizations for German Measles (Rubella), MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and Chicken Pox.
Wait 2 weeks after immunizations for Red Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Polio( by mouth), Small Pox and Yellow Fever vaccine.
Wait 7 days after immunization for Hepatitis B as long as you are not given the immunization for exposure to hepatitis B.
Infections
If you have a fever or an active infection, wait until the infection has
passed before donating blood.
Wait 2 days after finishing antibiotics for an infection (bacterial or viral).
Infections with common herpes virus (cold sores or genital herpes) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are acceptable as long as you feel well and do not have a fever.
Those who have had infections with Chagas Disease, babesiosis or leishmaniasis are not eligible to donate blood.
See also Antibiotics, Infectious Mononucleosis, Hepatitis, HIV, Syphilis/Gonorrhea, and Tuberculosis.
Infectious Mononucleosis, "Mono"
Acceptable if you had infectious mononucleosis ("mono") once the
infection has passed, as long as you did not have hepatitis with the
mononucleoisis.
Intravenous Drug Use
Those who have ever used IV drugs that were not prescribed by a physician are
not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about
hepatitis and HIV. Learn
more about hepatitis and blood donation.
Lyme disease
If this is a chronic condition you cannot donate. If you were treated with
antibiotics and completely recovered, you can donate 12 months after the last
dose of antiobiotics was taken.
Malaria
Wait 3 years after completing treatment for malaria. Wait 12 months after
returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found. Wait 3 years after
moving to the United States after living in a country where malaria is found. Learn
more about malaria and blood donation.
Marijuana, "Weed", "Pot"
Acceptable as long as you are not under the influence of marijuana at the time
of donation.
Medications In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor. Your eligibility will be based on the reason that the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted.
There are a handful of drugs that are of special significance in blood donation. Persons on these drugs have waiting periods following their last dose before they can donate blood:
If you ever took Tegison (etretinate), you are not eligible to donate blood. If you ever took human pituitary-derived growth hormone, you are not eligible to donate blood. If you take aspirin, you can donate blood. However you must wait 36 hours after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. If you take Ticlid or Plavix, wait 36 hours after taking these medications before donating platelets by apheresis. If you are taking prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin or heparin, you should not donate since your blood will not clot normally. If your doctor discontinues your treatment with blood thinners, wait 5 days before returning to donate.
Menstruation
Women may donate during their period if feeling well on the day of donation.
Organ/Tissue Transplants
Wait 12 months after receiving an organ or tissue transplant from another
person. This includes bone and dental powder. If you are taking medications to
prevent rejection of the organ or tissue you are not eligible to donate.
If you ever received a corneal (eye) transplant or a dura mater (brain covering) transplant, you are not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about the brain disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD). Learn more about CJD and blood donation.
Piercing (ears, body), Electrolysis
Acceptable as long as the instruments used were sterile.
Wait 12 months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were sterile and free of blood contamination. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation.
Pregnancy, Nursing
Persons who are pregnant are not eligible to donate. Wait 6 weeks after giving
birth. Acceptable if you are nursing, or recently had an elective abortion.
Sexually Transmitted Disease
Wait 12 months after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea.
Sickle Cell
Acceptable if you have sickle cell trait. Those with sickle cell disease are
not eligible to donate.
Skin Disease, Rash, Acne
Acceptable as long as the skin over the vein to be used to collect blood is
not affected. If the skin disease has become infected, wait until the
infection has cleared before donating. Taking antibiotics to control acne does
not disqualify you from donating.
Surgery
Acceptable once the wound is healed and stitches are dissolved or removed, as
long as the underlying condition is also acceptable in a blood donor. Wait 2
days after having stitches or staples for lacerations. If a laceration has
become infected, wait until the infection has cleared before donating. Wait 12
months if you had a blood transfusion from another person during surgery.
Syphilis/Gonorrhea
Wait 12 months after being treated for syphilis or gonorrhea.
Tattoo
Wait 12 months after a tattoo. This requirement is related to concerns about
hepatitis. Learn
more about hepatitis and blood donation.
Tuberculosis
Acceptable if you have a positive skin test for tuberculosis, or if you are
receiving antibiotics for a positive TB skin test only. If you are being
treated for a tuberculosis infection, wait until treatment is successfully
completed before donating.
Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration
Wait 12 months after travel in an area where malaria is found. Wait 3 years
after moving to the United States after living in a country where malaria is
found. Persons who have spent long periods of time in countries where
"mad cow disease" is found are not eligible to donate. This
requirement is related to concerns about variant Creutzfeld Jacob Disease (vCJD).
Learn
more about vCJD and donation. Persons who were born in or who lived in
certain countries in Western Africa, or who have had close contact with
persons who were born in or who lived in certain West African countries are
not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about HIV
Group O.
Venereal Diseases
See also “Sexually Transmitted Disease”
Wait 12 months after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea.
Weight
You must weigh at least 110 Lbs to be eligible for blood donation for your own
safety. Blood volume is in proportion to body weight. Donors who weight less
than 110Lbs may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood as
well as those who weigh more than 110Lbs. There is no upper weight limit as
long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor
bed/lounge you are using. You can discuss any upper weight limitations of beds
and lounges with your local health historian.
By: R.A.R.,MD and M.A.P., RN,BSN