Am I Eligible to Donate?

Blood Donation Eligibility Guidelines

Basic Donation Criteria: 

You must meet all of the following criteria in order to donate:

1. Be at least 17 years old. (16 year old may donate with parental consent - parental consent form*) 
2. Weigh at least 110 lbs (bodyweight). Please refer to the height and weight chart if under the age of 18)
3. Generally feel healthy and well.
4. Have no fever, sore throat or flu-like symptoms.
5. Have no active cold symptoms.
6. No recent major surgery recently and released from doctor’s care.
7. Special requirements apply to double red cell donors:  Men: > 5’1” height, weight > 130 lbs.; Women: > 5’5” height, weight 150 lbs. Go to double red cell for more information.

The following criteria may affect your ability to donate and result in a temporary deferral:

1. Tattoo/Body Piercing – these are acceptable if sterile technique was used in a licensed facility in Ohio, Indiana or Kentucky.  If done in any other manner, you must wait 12 months after the procedure was performed.  Call Hoxworth Blood Center Donor Services for information regarding other states (513-558-1304).
2. Pregnancy – You cannot donate while pregnant.  You may donate six weeks after the pregnancy has ended.
3. Allergies – You may not donate until 6 hours after your allergy shot.
4. Heart Disease* - Evaluated on an individual basis.
5. Travel* – If traveling to a known malarial zone, you must wait one year.  If you lived in a known malarial zone, you must wait 3 years after immigrating to the U.S.

You may donate if you are taking the following medications:

1. Aspirin – platelet donors must wait 48 hours after ingestion.
2. Ibuprofen (Advil/Aleve [Naproxen]) – platelet donors must wait 24 hours.
3. Birth Control Pills
4. Blood Pressure Medication – provided your blood pressure is under control.
5. Antibiotics – 24 hours after the last oral dose is taken and you are symptom free.
6. Diabetes Medication – Oral medication is acceptable.  Insulin dependent diabetics may donate provided they have not used beef-source insulin since Jan. 1, 1980.
7. Heart Disease Related Medications*
8. Other Medications*

You may NOT donate at any time (permanent disqualification) if you have:

1. tested positive for HIV.
2. participated in high-risk behaviors associated with HIV infection.
3. Viral Hepatitis after the age of 11.
4. Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus infection at any age.
5. Certain forms of Cancer *

General recommendation to help with the donation process:

1. Eat a good meal, drink plenty of non-caffeinated or non-alcoholic fluids before and after donating.
2. Bring the names of your medications.  We will ask the reasons for use to determine eligibility.
3. Bring your last 3 years of foreign travel history.
4. You may donate again in 56 days (8 weeks), unless you donated a double red cell (112 days).

*Call Hoxworth Blood Center Donor Services for information regarding other states for Tattoo/Body Piercing,  or more information regarding Parental Consent, Medications, Travel, Heart Disease and Cancer at 513-558-1304; toll-free at 800-265-1515, ext .8-1304.

Updated 8/28/09