Typically anyone in good health who is at least 18 years of age and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood and/or platelets.
Blood donors are carefully screened for a variety of health conditions, medications, and travel to determine donor eligibility. Some of the more common reasons fordeferral (not being able to donate) are listed below.
Potential donors may also receive a deferral during the physical examination or upon examination of donor history.
Medical Conditions
| Condition | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| AIDS - High risk individuals and their partners | Permanent deferral |
| Cold or flu | 48 hour deferral after symptoms are gone |
| Hepatitis or jaundice after age 11 and over | Permanent deferral |
| Pregnancy - after delivery, miscarriage, abortion | 6 week deferral |
| Surgery (without transfusion) | 6 week deferral |
Medications
| Medication | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Allergy medications, blood pressure medications, vitamins, diet pills, sleeping pills, ibuprofen, Tylenol® (most types of these medications acceptable) | Eligible to donate |
| Antibiotics | Contact the Blood Donor Center for eligibility criteria |
| Aspirin | 48 hour deferral (platelets only) |
| All other medications | Contact the Blood Donor Center for eligibility criteria |
Procedures
| Procedure | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Ear piercing - performed by medical staff | Eligible to donate |
| Ear piercing - unapproved location | 1 year deferral |
| Tattoo | 3 month deferral at licensed facility |
| Dental work - invasive | 72 hour deferral |
| Teeth cleaning | 24 hour deferral |
Travel
| Area | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Malaria risk areas | 1 year deferral |
| United Kingdom - 3 months or more cumulative time spent in U.K. from 1980-1996 | Indefinite deferral |
| Europe - 5 years or more cumulative time spent in Europe from 1980 to present | Indefinite deferral |
| Military - from 1980 to the present | Contact the Blood Donor Center for eligibility criteria |
Vaccinations
| Vaccination | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Flu | Eligible same day |
| Gardasil (HPV) | Eligible same day |
| Hepatitis B vaccine (for prophylaxis only) | 2 week deferral |
| Hepatitis B vaccine (for exposure) | 1 year deferral |
| Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) | 4 weeks deferral |
| T-Dap | Eligible same day |
| All other vaccinations | Contact the Blood Donor Center for eligibility criteria |