Most healthy adults are eligible to give blood, however, there are some reasons a person may be deferred from donating temporarily, indefinitely, or permanently. Deferral criteria have been established for the protection of those donating and for those receiving transfusions in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration regulatory requirements, AABB standards, and Department of Defense policies. A temporary deferral should not discourage donors from coming back. We always need donors!
In general, to donate blood you should:
The blood donor travel-related deferral criteria do not apply to organ and bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donation. Those ineligible to donate blood due to travel to disease-prevalent areas may still be eligible to donate organs and bone marrow. Visit the
to learn how to join the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry — yet another way to save a life!
There are some specific conditions and activities that may prevent a potential donor from being eligible to donate. One reason is travel to areas where illnesses are or have been prevalent. Though most travelers will not become ill, there is a period of time where a traveler may be infected — a dormancy — but not display symptoms. To ensure the health of blood recipients, travelers are deferred from donating until the window where symptoms may appear has passed. See the table below for specific countries of interest.
| Country/Region | Donation Restriction |
| Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and other malaria-endemic areas, less than 5 consecutive years | 3-month deferral upon return |
| Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and other malaria-endemic areas, more than 5 consecutive years | 3-year deferral upon return |
| North of Seoul, Korea (the 37.7 parallel), if traveled between March-December, due to malaria | 3-month deferral |
| Iraq, Afghanistan, and other leishmania-endemic areas | 12-month deferral upon return |
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Isle of Man) from January 1980-December 1996 for a cumulative time of 3 months or more.
France or Ireland from 1980-2001 for a cumulative time of 5 years or greater.
| Indefinite deferral |
| Issue/Condition | Donation Restriction |
| Previous Donation | 8 weeks after last whole blood donation. Please contact your
local ASBP blood donor center. |
| Piercing, Brand, Tattoo, and Permanent Make-up | 3 months after getting the piercing, brand, tattoo or permanent make-up in a non-state regulated business.
Exceptions:
1) There is no deferral for ear piercings performed using sterile, single-use equipment.
2) Some donors may be eligible to donate one week after adequate healing of the tattoo or permanent make-up if a) applied using sterile needles and one-time use ink and b) in a state-regulated entity in one of the following states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
|
| Acupuncture | 12 months after having acupuncture.
Exception: If acupuncture was performed by a licensed provider, using single-use equipment under aseptic conditions, and the underlying condition is not cause for deferral, you may be eligible to donate. Please contact your local ASBP blood donor center for more details. |
| Recent Immunizations | Some immunizations do not restrict your ability to donate while others carry up to a 12-month deferral. Contact your local ASBP blood donor center for details on the deferral period for a particular immunization. |
| Medications | Most medications do not disqualify donation. Contact your local ASBP blood donor center for details about deferral periods for a specific medication. |
| Medical Conditions | Certain medical conditions may restrict your ability to donate for a short or extended period. Contact your local ASBP blood donor center for details about deferral periods for a specific condition. |
| Pregnancy | Deferred until 6 weeks after the end of pregnancy. |
| Cold or Flu | Eligible to donate once you have been feeling well for 3 days. |
| Blood Transfusion | 3 months following transfusion. |
| Hemophilia/Blood Clotting Disorders requiring ongoing treatment with clotting factor concentrates | Permanent deferral |
HIV Risk
- Male donors who have had sex with another male
- Female donors who have had sex with a male who has had sex with another male
- Those who have exchanged sex for money or drugs
- Those who have a history of sex with a person who has ever exchanged sex for money or drugs
- Those who have had sex with someone who has ever tested positive for HIV
- Those who have engaged in non-prescription injection drug use
- Those who have had sex with anyone who has engaged in non-prescription injection drug use
- Those who have had blood transfusions
- Those who have had contact with the blood of another individual through percutaneous inoculation such as needle sticks or contact with open wound/mucous membranes
| 3 months |
| Positive HIV Test | Permanent deferral |
| Viral Hepatitis at age 11 or over | Permanent deferral |
| Positive Hepatitis Test | Permanent deferral |
| Syphilis or gonorrhea | Deferred 3 months after completion of treatment. |