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- Am I Eligible to Donate Blood?
- Additional Eligibility Criteria
- Am I Eligible to Donate Blood?
- Additional Eligibility Criteria
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed some of the eligibility criteria for blood donation in 2022. Deferral rules with respect to past European residence (previously linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) were removed. As a result, some donors who were previously ineligible to donate may now be eligible. Our Blood Donor Center implemented these new criteria at the end of September 2022.
Notice for platelet donors: Effective June 22, 2021, donors who have had a splenectomy (spleen removal) will not be eligible to donate platelets on our apheresis instruments (Trima Accel) due to a software change.
Acupunture
Donors who have undergone acupuncture treatments with licensed providers are acceptable.
Age
You must be at least 17 years old to donate. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities.
Allergies
Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever and have no problems breathing through your mouth.
Antibiotics
You may not donate if you currently have an infection. Generally, you should wait at least three days after treatment is complete and you are feeling well. If you received antibiotics by injection, you should wait one week after the last dose since those medications are for more serious infections. If you are using topical antibiotics for acne alone, you can donate blood.
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)/Pre and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) for HIV/AIDS
If you have taken any oral medications to prevent HIV/AIDS due to exposure risk, you must wait 3 months from your last dose before donating. If you have taken any intravenous medications to prevent HIV/AIDS due to exposure risk, you must wait 2 years from your last dose before donating. If you have taken any medications to treat HIV/AIDS, you are not eligible to donate. See important notice from the FDA.
Aspirin
You cannot donate platelets if you have taken aspirin in the past 48 hours because the medication prevents platelets from working. However, you can donate whole blood (red blood cells and plasma) even if you have recently taken aspirin.
Asthma/Lung Conditions
Acceptable as long as asthma is well controlled, you have no activity restrictions, you are not having breathing difficulties and you feel well on the day of donation.
If you have chronic lung conditions, you should be asymptomatic without shortness of breath before donating. Please call the Blood Donor Center to inquire about your specific condition.
Birth Control
Women on oral contraceptives or using other forms of birth control are eligible to donate.
Bleeding Conditions/Blood Diseases
If you have a bleeding condition, this may make it unsafe to donate blood due to excessive bleeding. Many blood diseases will defer you from donating blood. Please call the Blood Donor Center to inquire about your specific condition.
Blood Pressure (including Hypertension)
To ensure your safety, the FDA only allows blood donation if your blood pressure is between 90/50 and 180/100 mm Hg (first number is systolic pressure; second number is diastolic pressure).
Blood Thinners
For most blood thinners, you must wait at least one month after stopping the medication to prevent excessive bleeding during the needle stick.
If you are taking medications with aspirin, you can donate whole blood but must wait at least 48 hours before donating platelets.
Blood Transfusion/Blood Exposure
If you were exposed to someone else’s blood, for example through a needle stick, wait three months before donating blood.
Cancer
You cannot donate blood if you have had a blood cancer such as leukemia or lymphoma. For most invasive cancers, you may donate if it has been at least one year since treatment completion and you have remained free of cancer.
Chronic Illnesses
Most chronic illnesses are acceptable as long as you feel well, the condition is under control and you meet all other eligibility requirements.
Cold or Flu
Do not donate if you have a fever, cold, flu, wet cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, diarrhea or abdominal symptoms. Wait three days after you have completed treatment and feel well.
COVID-19
There is no waiting period after receiving a vaccine against COVID-19. Some people may have soreness, chills, low grade fever and/or muscle aches after the shot. This is normal and is due to the immune system recognizing the vaccine. If you have symptoms, please wait until you have fully recovered before donating blood.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
If you ever received a dura mater (brain covering) transplant or human pituitary growth hormone, you are not eligible to donate. Those who have a blood relative who had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are also not eligible to donate.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Variant (Mad Cow Disease)
Donors who have previously resided in Europe or who were stationed on U.S. military bases in Europe are no longer deferred from giving blood.
Dental Work
For minor procedures such as fillings and cleanings, you may donate as long as you have no swelling or inflammation. For more complex procedures such as tooth extraction or root canals, wait three days (72 hours).
Diabetes
If your diabetes is well controlled on insulin or oral medications, you are eligible to donate.
Donation Intervals
Wait at least eight weeks between whole blood (standard) donations. Wait at least 14 days between platelet (apheresis) donations.
Donor Deferral for Men Who Have Had Sex with Men (MSM)
Ebola Virus
You are not eligible to donate if you have ever had Ebola virus infection or disease.
Heart Conditions
You should have been medically evaluated and treated, have no current heart related symptoms such as chest pain and have no limitations or restrictions on your normal daily activities. For heart attack or heart surgery, please wait at least twelve months; for irregular heart rate, please wait at least six months. Ask your physician if it is safe for you to donate blood. You many also call the Blood Donor Center for additional information.
If you are taking aspirin for the heart condition, you are not eligible to donate platelets.
Hepatitis or Jaundice
You cannot donate blood during a hepatitis or jaundice episode. If the cause is infectious (hepatitis A for example), wait one year before donating. If the cause is not infectious (gallbladder disease for example), wait until symptoms have resolved and you feel well. If you have ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you are not eligible to donate.
HIV/AIDS
You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV. Even if the disease is well controlled with anti-retroviral treatment, you are not eligible to donate blood.
You should not give blood if you have any of the following conditions that can be signs or symptoms of HIV/AIDS: fever, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat or rash.
Immunization/Vaccination
Interval before donation eligibility depends on type of immunization and reason for shot. If vaccine contains inactive pathogen, you can donate the same day as long as you feel well. If vaccine contains attenuated pathogen (weakened but still alive), you may need to wait up to one month. If you received a vaccine due to exposure risk, you may need to wait up to one year.
We recommend calling the Blood Donor Center about particular vaccines/shots you have recently received.
Infection Risk Due to Close Contacts/ Incarceration
Infections
If you have a fever or an active infection, wait until you have completed treatment and infection has resolved completely before donating blood.
Intravenous Drug Use
If you have used intravenous drugs not prescribed by a physician, you must wait at least 3 months before donating blood.
Iron (Hemoglobin Level)
Iron is a key ingredient in hemoglobin. If your hemoglobin level is too low, you will not be eligible to donate. A female blood donor must have a hemoglobin between 12.5 and 18.4 g/dL; a male donor must have a hemoglobin between 13 and 18.4 g/dL.
Medications
If you are taking a medication for any infection, you should wait until treatment is complete and you feel well again.
Most medications do not disqualify you from donating as long as the underlying medical control is well controlled. This is to ensure safety for the blood donor and transfusion recipient. Please call the blood donor center if you have questions about your medications.
Certain medications have waiting periods before you can donate. This includes some drugs derived from human or animal sources.
Take a look at the list of medications (PDF) that may affect your eligibility to donate blood.
Organ/Tissue Transplants
You may not donate if you have received an organ transplant or living animal tissue. Non-living animal tissues such as bone, tendon or heart valves are acceptable but you must wait 3 months.
Pregnancy/Nursing
Wait six weeks after giving birth for donating blood. There is no deferral for nursing.
Women who have been pregnant cannot donate platelets or plasma until they have been tested for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies and found to be negative.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
You should wait three months after being treated for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. You may not donate if you have active genital herpes. You cannot donate if you have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Sickle Cell Disease
If you have sickle cell trait, you can donate plasma or platelets. If you have sickle cell disease, you cannot donate blood.
Skin Disease, Rash or Acne
Acceptable as long as symptoms are limited to the skin (no fever, no breathing difficulties) and do not involve area over vein for blood collection. If you have a skin or deeper tissue infection, wait until the infection has cleared before donating. If you are using topical antibiotics for acne alone, you can donate blood.
Splenectomy/Spleen Removal
Any donor who has had their spleen removed is not eligible to donate platelets on our apheresis instruments (Trima Accel).
If the spleen was removed due to injury or trauma, a donor may give:
- Whole blood
- Plasma via apheresis
- Red blood cells via apheresis
If the spleen was removed for a medical condition such as a blood disorder, please check this list or call the blood donor center to determine eligibility.
Surgeries and Procedures
Generally, you should wait until you have been released from medical care, are healed, feel well and full activity has resumed (minimum of 3 days). Longer waiting times apply for certain organs such as the heart. You will be asked about underlying medications when you come to donate.
Tattoo, Body Piercing (including ears), Electrolysis or Scarring
If the procedure was performed in D.C., Maryland or Pennsylvania, you must wait three months from the procedure date before donating blood. If the procedure was performed in a state-regulated facility in Virginia or West Virginia, you can donate once the site has healed (generally 1 week).
Travel
Travel outside the United States and Canada can lead to deferrals due to risk of exposure to various disease agents such as malaria. Your travel destinations will be reviewed at the time of donation. Most deferrals are for three months but we recommend calling the Blood Donor Center beforehand for more information.
Tuberculosis
You may donate if you are free of disease. If you are receiving treatment for exposure risk, wait until treatment is completed. If you had active lung infection, wait two years before donating.
Weight/Height
Your weight must be between 110 and 350 lbs (50 to 159 kg) to donate. There are no height restrictions.