Blood Donor Requirements & Restrictions
The Red Cross collects approximately 6.5 million volunteer blood donations each year nationwide. Approximately 60 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood. The remaining 40 percent may have one or more of the following restrictions whcih prevent them from donating blood for at least a temporary period.
Eligible Donors
You may be eligible to donate blood if you are:
- at least 17 years of age
- weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
- are in good general health
Possible Donation Restrictions or Deferrals
Accutane/Propecia/Proscar: Four (4) week deferral after stopping medication.
Alcoholism: No deferral if donor is not currently under the influence of alcohol.
Anthrax Vaccination: No deferral if donor does not have a fever and is symptom-free.
Antibiotics: No deferral if course of medication is completed and donor is asymptomatic.
Asthma: No deferral unless symptoms are present at time of donation.
Body/Ear Piercing: No deferral if sterile, one-use needle is used. Twelve (12) month deferral if needle was previously used or if there is any question about sterility.
Cancer: There is a five (5) year waiting period after some cancers. There is no deferral for basal and squamous cell skin cancer and some in-situ cancers if treated and healed.
Cold/Flu: No deferral for minor symptoms without fever. Minor symptoms include dry cough, runny nose, mild stuffiness and no sore throat.
Communicable Diseases:
Hepatitis exposure has a mandatory twelve (12) month deferral.
Measles or Mumps exposure has a mandatory three (3) week deferral unless the donor has been immunized or had the disease in the past.
Chicken Pox exposure is a mandatory four (4) week deferral unless the donor has been immunized or has had the disease in the past.
Additionally, you must not donate blood if:
- You have had viral hepatitis on or after age 11.
- You have had or been treated for gonorrhea or syphilis in the past 12 months.
Diabetes: No deferral if controlled by diet and/or medication. Two (2) week deferral from start of insulin treatment.
Epilepsy/Convulsions/Seizures: No deferral if donor has not experienced a seizure for three months, with or without medication.
Hepatitis B Vaccination: Seven (7) day deferral after receiving a routine vaccination. Twelve (12) month deferral if received for Hepatitis exposure.
High Blood Pressure Medications: No deferral if blood pressure is within acceptable limits at donation time.
Intranasal Use of Cocaine or any street drug: Mandatory twelve (12) month deferral.
Malaria: There is a twelve (12) month deferral following a visit to a malarial zone. For donors who have lived in a country endemic for malaria for five years of more, there is a three (3) year deferral and the donor must have experienced no symptoms of malaria during that time.
Mononucleosis: No deferral if donor is recovered and if the mono was not associated with hepatitis or jaundice.
Pregnancy: Donor is deferred during pregnancy. There is a six (6) week deferral following delivery or loss of third trimester pregnancy. There is no deferral period after a first or second trimester miscarriage.
Small Pox Vaccination: No deferral after the scab has developed and fallen off.
Soriatane: Mandatory three (3) year deferral.
Surgery: No deferral if sutures are dissolved or removed, wound has healed and donor has resumed normal activity. Twelve (12) month deferral if the donor has received blood, plasma or serum.
Tattoo: Mandatory twelve (12) month deferral.
Tegison: Indefinite deferral.
Tooth Extraction/Root Canal: No deferral if no infection is present.
Travel and Overseas Residence:
Indefinite deferral for donors born in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger or Nigeria since 1977.
Possible indefinite deferral for donors who have lived in or visited the United Kingdom or Europe for a total time of 3-6 months since January 1, 1980, depending on exactly where the donor traveled and how long he or she was there.
A member of the American Red Cross staff will help the donor determine whether or not a deferral is necessary.
Risk Factors
You are at high risk for HIV/AIDS and must not donate blood if you have any of the following risk factors:
- You are a male who has had sex with another male since 1977.
- You have ever used illegal or non-prescription drugs by needle.
- You have been the sex partner of a male or female prostitute within the last 12 months.
- You have AIDS or one of its symptoms.
- You are a person who has been given money or drugs for sex in the past 12 months.
- You have ever had a positive test for the HIV antibody, indicating past exposure to the AIDS virus.
- You have taken clotting factor concentrates for bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia.
- You are/or have been the sex partner of any persons described above in the past 12 months.
Additional Information
Be sure to eat regular meals and increase fluid intake before and after donating blood.
Effective January 2004, every donor must present identification or he or she will not be allowed to donate blood.
To schedule a blood donation appointment or to find a blood donation location near you, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).
Donor eligibility criteria may have been changed since the last revision date of this document. The most up-to-date eligibility information can be obtained by contacting the American Red Cross.
Any questions regarding donor eligibility or requirements not listed above should be directed to the American Red Cross staff at a blood drive or the American Red Cross Blood Services Donor Services offices at 1-800-860-4447.