Can I Donate?

Our donor history form and mini-physical tell donors quickly if there is any reason why they should not give. Those who question their ability to donate should sign up and talk to a blood service representative.

Occasionally, people who want to donate blood must be temporarily deferred. This does not mean they can never give blood again. In nearly every case, after a short period of time they will be able to donate.

Common questions about donor qualifications

• Allergies: You can donate if allergies are under control with no symptoms.
• Antibiotics for infections: Must be off medication for 24 hours.
• Apheresis donation: Wait 28 days.
• Athletics: You should avoid strenuous activities for at least 3 - 5 hours after donating.
• Blood transfusions: Wait one year.
• Cold, flu, sore throat, fever: Wait until you are feeling normal.
• Dental visit: Wait 72 hours after major dental work. There is no wait after a routine cleaning or filling.
• Diabetic on insulin: Acceptable.
• Ear or skin piercing: No deferral if pierced by permanent earring or disposable needle and pierced area is healed. Piercing by any other method, wait one year.
• Hepatitis A contact: Wait 90 days.
• Hepatitis B and C contact: Wait one year.
• Iron level low: Wait until iron level is up. This will be checked when you next come to donate.
  Iron rich foods can quickly restore the blood's iron level. They include chicken, clams, dates, dried apricots, dried beans or peas, dried peaches, dried prunes or prune juice, eggs, enriched and whole-grain breads, ham, iron-fortified cereal, liver, lean beef or pork, molasses (blackstrap), oysters, raisins, sardines, scallops, shrimp, tuna, veal and wheat germ.
• Malaria: Visited or lived in a malaria zone - wait one year.  Immigrated from country in a malaria zone - wait 3 years.
• Meals: You should not skip meals prior to donating blood.
• Menstrual cycle: You can donate during your menstual cycle.
• Mononucleosis: Wait for release from doctor's care.
• Pregnancy: Wait six weeks after delivery or one year if delivery required blood transfusion.
• Sexually transmitted diseases: Chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis and venereal warts - acceptable if no symptoms. Syphilis and gonorrhea - wait one year after completion of therapy.
• Surgery: Wait for release from doctor's care if you did not receive any blood products. If you received blood, wait one year from date of transfusion.
• Tattoo: Wait one year.
• Whole blood donation: Wait eight weeks to make a whole blood donation or 28 days to make an apheresis donation.

You should not donate blood if you:

• Have tested positive for HIV/AIDS
• Have had hepatitis after age 10
• Have had heart disease with permanent damage
• Have a history of drug addiction
• Have had certain types of cancer