Blood Donor Eligibility

Some health conditions or medications may temporarily or permanently prevent persons from donating blood.

As part of the donation process, other aspects of a potential blood donor's health history are discussed before any blood is collected.

Each donor receives a brief health exam and interview, during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure, hemoglobin and life choices are evaluated.

Making donations for your own use during surgery (autologous blood donation) is considered a medical procedure that requires a written prescription and the rules for eligibility are not as strict as they are for regular volunteer donations.

If you have a question regarding your eligibility, please feel free to call us at 508-961-5320.

Donating Whole Blood

• Every 56 days.
• Hematocrit greater than or equal to 38.
• 18 years of age or older (17 years of age, with parents' written permission and weighing 130 pounds).
• Weigh at least 110 pounds.
• Feel well and healthy. You should be able to perform normal activities. Donors with chronic conditions (such as diabetes or high cholesterol) that are under control with medication, can often donate.

Double Red Cell Donations

• Every 112 days.
• Hematocrit greater than or equal to 40.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Weight requirements:
  • Females: 150 pounds
  • Males: 130 pounds
• Height requirements:
  • Females: 5'3" or taller
  • Males: 5'1" or taller
• Feel well and healthy. You should be able to perform normal activities. Donors with chronic conditions (such as diabetes or high cholesterol) that are under control with medication, can often donate.

Medical Conditions

• AIDS-individuals at high risk & their partners: Permanently Deferred

• Colds & Flus: Defer until feeling completely well

• Diabetes, under control: Can Donate

• Hepatitis & Jaundice before age 11: Can Donate

• Hepatitis & Jaundice after age 11: Permanently Deferred

• Pregnant: Defer 6 weeks after delivery

• Heart conditions: Can Donate with a Cardiologist's written approval

Medical Procedures

• Surgery, without receiving any blood products: Can Donate after release from physician

• Surgery, having received blood products: Defer for 12 months

Medications

• Antibiotics: Defer for 24-72 hours from last dose

• Allergy medications: Can Donate

• Blood pressure medications: Can Donate

• Cholesterol medications: Can Donate

• Diuretics: Can Donate

• Diet pills: Can Donate

• Sleeping pills: Can Donate

• Tranquilizers: Can Donate

• Aspirin: Can Donate (less than 6 in last 24 hours)

• Tylenol: Can Donate

• Advil: Can Donate

• Over the counter medications: Can Donate

Vaccinations

• Measles and Mumps: Defer for 2 weeks

• Rubella & Varicella: Defer for 4 weeks

• Hepatitis B: Defer for 1 week

• Flu Vaccine: Can Donate

• Tetanus: Can Donate

• Lyme Disease: Can Donate

Travel

• Malaria zone: Defer for 1 year

• UK travel (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Isles of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Falkland Islands): Defer permanently IF lived or traveled for greater than 3 months cumulative between 1980 and 1996.

• Europe travel: Defer permanently IF lived or traveled for greater than 5 years cumulative since 1980.

• Europe military travel: Defer permanently IF 6 months on a European military base.

Other Possible Restrictions

• Ear piercing-professionally done: Can Donate

• Ear piercing-non-professionally done: Defer for 12 months

• Tattooing: Defer for 12 months