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Note to
users: This list is not complete. Medical
professionals are available at each blood collection center and
details of each donor's health and activities are discussed in a
confidential setting prior to blood donation. The final
determination of eligibility is made at that time. Some donor
eligibility rules are specified by the Food and Drug
Administration for every blood bank in the country. Other rules
are determined by the particular blood bank and may differ
between programs. Donor eligibility rules are intended to
protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the
patient who will receive the transfusion. The criteria listed
below are provided as guidelines to assist you in determining
whether you may be eligible to be a blood donor. The guidelines
listed below were last revised on 3/14/05. There may have been
some changes to these criteria since the last revision date.
►►Donor
Requirements
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►►Medical
Conditions
►►
Medications ►►
Vaccines
►►Questions
and Answers about Deferrals |
Donor Requirements
For Whole Blood Donation
As of
04/06
| Age/Weight |
Donors must be at least 17 years old. There
is no upper age limit. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. |
| Diet |
It is advisable to eat a well-balanced meal
one to four hours before giving
blood. Beginning two days prior to donating (and especially on the day
of donation), drink plenty of fluids, such as water or juice. |
| Donation Interval |
Allow eight weeks (56 days) between donations. |
|
Identification |
All donors are required to provide
acceptable proof of identify or they will not be permitted to donate.
Acceptable forms of identification include an American Red Cross donor
card or a picture ID such as a driver’s license. If you don't have a
picture ID or a donor card,
then two forms of ID are required, such as an insurance card, library
card, club membership card, etc. If you don't have any of the IDs listed, call to
determine what
would be an acceptable form of identification. |
Medical
Conditions... Can I Donate?
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Active infections: cold, fever, flu, sore throat, etc. |
No |
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Allergies: with or without medication |
Yes |
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Arthritis |
Yes |
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Asthma: if no symptoms on day of donation, with or without medication |
Yes |
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Blood transfusion |
Call |
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Body piercing: if performed under sterile conditions |
Yes |
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Cancer |
Call |
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Cardiac or Lung Conditions |
Call |
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Diabetes |
Yes |
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Epilepsy or seizures |
Call |
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Fainting: from blood donation |
Yes |
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Hepatitis: any known type |
No |
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Hepatitis: if an unknown type prior to age 11 |
Yes |
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High blood pressure: with or without medication, if BP is
between 80/50-180/100 |
Yes |
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Jaundice or hepatitis exposure |
Call |
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Lived outside the U.S. in the past three
years |
Call |
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Lyme Disease, chronic or recovered |
Call |
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Mononucleosis, or mononucleosis exposure |
Call |
New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (Mad Cow) Disease:
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If, from 1980 - 1996, spent a total of 3
months or more in UK
|
No |
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If, from 1980 - present, spent 5 years
in Europe or Europe and the UK combined
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No |
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If, from 1980 - 1996, spent any time on
a military base outside the U.S.
|
Call
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Oral Surgery: if more than three days ago with no infection |
Yes |
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Pregnancy |
No |
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Postpartum/Breast feeding - if six weeks after delivery |
Yes |
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Routine dental care: for cleaning, filling cavities,
root canal (no infection) |
Yes |
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SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) or SARS exposure |
Call |
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Surgery |
Call |
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Tattoo: if administered by a licensed facility in the U.S. (CT
facilities are licensed.) |
Yes |
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Travel outside the U.S.: if within the last twelve months |
Call |
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West Nile Virus or exposure to West Nile
Virus |
Call |
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Medications...
Can I Donate? |
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Accutane, Claravis, Sotret, Amnesteem: if last dose was taken more than
four weeks ago |
Yes |
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Antibiotics: if used for acne only |
Yes |
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Antibiotics used for active infection: if no symptoms and
course of treatment was completed prior to donation |
Yes |
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Anti-depressants |
Yes |
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Aspirin |
Yes |
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Birth control pills |
Yes |
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Botox |
Yes |
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Lipitor (or other cholesterol medications) |
Yes |
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Propecia or Proscar: if last dose was taken more than four weeks ago |
Yes |
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Viagra |
Yes |
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Zovirax (antiviral medication) |
Yes |
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Vaccines...
Can I Donate? |
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Chicken pox: if more than four weeks ago |
Yes |
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German Measles (rubella): if more than four weeks ago |
Yes |
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Hepatitis A: if no exposure or symptoms |
Yes |
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Hepatitis B: if no exposure, no symptoms, and more than
seven days ago |
Yes |
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Lyme Disease: if no exposure and no symptoms |
Yes |
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Measles,
mumps, polio (oral), yellow fever: if more than two weeks ago |
Yes |
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Tetanus, meningitis, anthrax, flu, pneumonia: if no symptoms |
Yes |
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* Call
1-800-462-9400 ext. 2210
Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
for more information about your eligibility.
Please allow between one hour and one hour and
15 minutes for the entire donation process including health history, donation and
refreshment.
Thank you for
donating!
If you have questions
about donating, or if you need more information
about your eligibility,
please call 1-800-462-9400 ext. 2210
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM or
e-mail us confidentially at .
For an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
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Q&A About Deferrals
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Q. |
Why are
some potential
donors deferred? |
A. |
There are many common reasons
for deferring potential donors, ranging from age and weight to blood
pressure and health history. Every donor is evaluated individually by
qualified blood collection staff.
All blood donors must meet certain standard
health requirements, which are set up to protect the donors as well as the
patients receiving the blood products. Even “regular” donors, who give blood
as often as every eight weeks, must be screened before each donation.
There are two types of deferrals – temporary
and indefinite. Some deferrals may require additional review by a blood
center physician. Indefinite deferrals are usually considered permanent or
until important new information is available. |
Q. |
What are some common
reasons for temporary deferral? |
A. |
Low
Iron (Hemoglobin). Some potential donors are deferred
because the hemoglobin test indicates that the iron level in their blood is
lower than acceptable for blood donation. A hematocrit test is also
performed to confirm the low hemoglobin, and if the hematocrit is unusually
low, the donor will be advised to see his/her physician. Since iron levels
change over time, the deferral may only be temporary..
High or Low Blood Pressure.
Blood pressure is measured as part of the potential donor’s health exam, and
if the reading falls outside of the acceptable limits, the donor is
temporarily deferred. A potential donor who is on blood pressure medication
should continue to take the medication as prescribed. Because blood pressure
levels vary, a deferred donor may be eligible to donate the next time.
Medication.
It is important to remember that taking medication does not usually defer a
donor. However, the reason for taking the medication may result in a
deferral. A deferred donor will be made aware of the required waiting period
before the next donation. |
Q. |
Who is indefinitely
deferred? |
A. |
Some blood donors are
indefinitely or permanently deferred, including people who have hepatitis or
who are at risk for AIDS. In some cases, the standards for blood donation
eligibility change as new information on blood-transmitted diseases becomes
available. If new information results in previously deferred donors becoming
eligible, we will notify them. |
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Note to users:
Eligibility guidelines may have changed since this information was
last updated.
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