Check You Are Able To Give Blood
Use this quick list to check you can give.
You can also read some of the most common eligibility questions we receive from blood donors.
If you have a health condition, have travelled out of the country recently, or if you answer “yes” to any question on your Donor Health Check questionnaire, please call 0300 123 23 23 or check the health & eligibility or travel section for further advice about whether this affects you donating blood.
The common reasons donors should check if they can give blood are:
- if you are receiving medical or hospital treatment
- if you are taking medication
- after travelling outside of the UK
- after having a tattoo or piercing
- during and after pregnancy
- if you have cancer
- after receiving blood, blood products or organs
If you have any questions then contact us by completing a web form or call us on 0300 123 23 23.
Can I Give Blood After Having Coronavirus Or The Vaccine
Yes, but if you have had COVID-19 please read our full coronavirus guidance for rules on attending a session before making an appointment to donate.
If you have had a coronavirus vaccine as part of the UK vaccination programme, please wait 7 full days after having the vaccine before coming to give blood on the 8th day.
What Fees Are Associated With Blood
While donated blood is free, there are significant costs associated with collecting, testing, preparing components, labeling, storing and shipping blood recruiting and educating donors and quality assurance. As a result, processing fees are charged to recover costs. Processing fees for individual blood components vary considerably. Processing fees for one specific component also may vary in different geographic regions. Hospitals charge for any additional testing that may be required, such as the crossmatch, as well as for the administration of the blood.
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Allergy And Anaphylactic Shock
In most cases, allergy does not prevent donation. Ordinary allergies which are controlled using antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays or eye drops are not an obstacle to donating blood. In addition, common allergy medications do not prevent donation.
Please note: due to the pandemic this year we are especially careful with all kinds of respiratory symptoms. Therefore it is not possible for a person with allergies to donate blood if he/she despite of medication still sniffles, coughs or has sneezing symptoms. We cannot receive anyone who has respiratory symptoms into the donation area.
However, a serious allergic reaction or anaphylaxis will result in a blood donation deferral period of two weeks starting after the end of treatment.
Desensitisation implemented with injections causes a three-day waiting period after each injection. If the therapy is performed with tablets, it causes a two-week long obstacle to donation starting from the day the therapy begins.
Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .
You Traveled To The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time
Travel exposes us to different cultures, customs, and diseases. Unfortunately, some of these diseases can affect your ability to donate blood.
Mad Cow Disease / Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is an infectious brain disease that occurs in humans and can be passed on via blood transfusion. Individuals with CJD are not allowed to donate blood. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, more commonly known as Mad Cow Disease, is a variant of CJD that can be passed on to humans when they eat food products from cows sick with Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Once infected, humans can then pass vCJD on to other humans via blood transfusions.
In the 80s and 90s, the UK saw a widespread outbreak of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cows. Symptoms from vCJD can take years to show. Currently, there is no sufficient test that can be used to screen all blood donors for vCJD before donation, which is why certain restrictions are placed on potential donors who traveled to, lived in, received blood transfusions in and around the UK during those times.
In particular, you will not be allowed to donate blood due concerns over vCJD if you:
- Traveled/lived 3 months or more in the UK from Jan. 1st, 1980 Dec. 31st, 1996
- Traveled/lived 5 years or more in France or Ireland from Jan. 1st 1990 Dec. 31st,1996
- Received a blood transfusion in France, Ireland, or the UK from Jan. 1st, 1980 present
Malaria
Appropriate wait times for blood donation if exposed to malaria:
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How Long Do I Have To Wait After Vaccination Before I Can Donate Plasma
There are some misunderstandings about wait times for donations after a COVID-19 vaccination. This is due to confusion about the different types of plasma donations.
As long as you dont have COVID-19 symptoms, are feeling healthy, and know the name of your vaccination manufacturer, you dont need to wait after your COVID-19 vaccination to donate standard plasma. But this isnt the case for other types of plasma donation.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a demand for both standard and convalescent plasma. Convalescent plasma contains high levels of antibodies for certain diseases.
Plasma donation centers can accept COVID-19-convalescent plasma from you if youve recovered from COVID-19 or received a COVID-19 vaccination. If youve received a COVID-19 vaccination, the Food and Drug Administration regulations state that only COVID-19 vaccinations given within the last 6 months qualify you to donate COVID-19-convalescent plasma.
Currently, neither the American Red Cross nor the National Institutes of Health are collecting COVID-19-convalescent plasma. The COVID-19 vaccine and the overall reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations have helped lower the need for convalescent plasma donations.
Standard plasma donations are the only donations needed at this time. You dont need to wait to donate standard plasma following your COVID-19 vaccination.
Can I Donate If I Have A Cold
No, if you are sneezing and coughing or very congested you should not attend. It is important that you do not have any infection at the time of donating. If you are unsure it is best not to give blood.
Can I donate if I feel ill or have a cold sore?
If you are feeling under the weather its best that you wait until you feel better before you give blood. Use our health & eligibility section to find out more.
Can I donate blood if I am taking antibiotics or have an infection?
If you have had coronavirus symptoms, please read our full coronavirus guidance for rules on attending a session before making an appointment to donate.
You must be completely healed or recovered from any infection for at least 14 days before you give blood. If you are taking antibiotics you may need to wait a period of time after your last tablet. Please follow our advice about donating after an infection. Please also see our advice about donating after antibiotics.
Can I donate if I am pregnant, or have recently been pregnant?
During your pregnancy, you are not able to give blood. If you had a blood transfusion during your pregnancy or at delivery then you will not be able to become a blood donor. Please follow our advice about giving blood during and after pregnancy.
Can I give blood if I am receiving medical treatment or taking medication?
Can I give blood if I have been to the dentist or received dental treatment?
Can I give blood if I have been travelling outside the UK?
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If You Have Genital Herpes Can You Donate Blood
Before discussing whether you can donate blood when you have herpes, we need to answer the question: Can herpes be transmitted through blood donation?
Previously, blood collection facilities allowed herpes carriers to donate blood as long as they did not have an active infection. Thats because many believed that herpes could spread only during intercourse or via direct skin-to-skin contact.
However,recent studies suggest that herpes may spread via blood transfusions, regardless of whether the infected has an active infection. Since there isnt enough evidence to support this theory, many facilities still accept blood from herpes carriers.
When Cant You Donate Blood
The American Red Crosswarns against donating blood if you have done any of the following in the past three months:
- Worked as a sex worker
- Taken Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or Truvada for preventing HIV
- Had sex with someone who has HIV, HTLV, or Hepatitis B or C
- Injected recreational drugs or had sex with someone who injected drugs not prescribed by a doctor
People who do the above are at a higher risk of contracting an STD or other diseases that make blood unsuitable for transfusions. You also shouldnt donate blood if you weigh less than 110 pounds. If you give blood while weighing less than 110 pounds, your weight may drop too quickly and trigger health complications.
People who have the following conditions should also not give blood:
- Hemochromatosis a hereditary disorder that causes iron salts to accumulate in the tissues, leading to liver damage, diabetes mellitus, and other issues
- Leukemia, lymphoma, or Hodgkins disease in the past
- A dura mater transplant
- A Zika infection in the last four months
- Ebola at any time in your life
- Hepatitis B or C or jaundice without an identified cause
- A trip to a place where malaria is widespread
- A blood transfusion within the last year
- Acne medications that contain isotretinoin
- Finasteride and dutasteride for benign prostatic hypertrophy
- Soriatane for psoriasis
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Can I Donate If
For whole-blood donation, you can make an appointment using our simple on-line form. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding donation, call the NIH Blood Bank at 496-1048. We can also answer many of your questions via email at .
Below, you will find a list of questions donors frequently ask. The eligibility criteria for donation at the National Institutes of Health Department of Transfusion Medicine reflects local NIH policy as well as national regulations. Although all blood banks are required to follow general federal regulations, specific criteria may vary, depending on each blood bank’s internal policies. If you are donating at a blood bank other than the NIH Blood Bank, contact that bank with any questions regarding your eligibility.
Can I donate if …
Can I donate if I am taking aspirin? You cannot donate platelets if you have taken aspirin in the last 48 hours.
Can I donate if I am 16 years old? You must be at least 17 years old to donate at the NIH Blood Bank or Donor Center at Fishers Lane.
Can I donate if I am 70 years old? There is no upper age limit for donation.
Can I donate if I have traveled to other countries? There is a slight risk of exposure to infectious agents outside the United States that could cause serious disease. Donor deferral criteria for travel outside the US are designed to prevent the transmission of three specific organisms from donor to recipient:
You Have The Cold Flu Or Other Acute Illnesses That Cause Fever
If you have the cold or flu at the time you wish to donate, you will want to reschedule your appointment for a full 7 days after your symptoms have disappeared. Having a cold or the flu doesnt affect the blood youre donating, but blood donation centers turn away sick individuals from donating in an effort to reduce the spread of the flu. If you are running a fever, you will not be permitted to donate blood.
Blood donation rates often go down during the flu season. If you want to help combat this issue, take a moment to read our article on Staying Healthy During the Flu Season.
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How And Where To Donate
The need for blood donation is critical and ongoing. From the time of donation, blood can be stored in a refrigerator for only 42 days. Moreover, blood centers typically run out of types O and B, placing patients with these blood types at risk during public health emergencies.
If you are least 16 years of age in most states, are in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds, you are eligible to be considered as a blood donor. You can find where to donate blood near you by accessing the American Red Cross website.
From start to finish, the blood donation process takes around the hour, including 10 minutes to draw one pint of blood.
How To Donate Plasma If You Have Herpes By Yourself
To donate plasma under certain conditions on your own, you may ask yourself questions such as:
- Can you donate plasma if you have an STD?
- Do they test for herpes when you donate plasma?
While these questions may be a bit confusing, the plasma donation center should have all the answers you need. Visit their website to find out more about eligibility requirements, what documentation to bring, and other general information. However, the process could be a bit hectic as a result of this condition.
If you have herpes and need to donate plasma for cash, DoNotPay can seamlessly guide you in each step and connect you with plasma donation centers ideal for you.
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Can I Donate Plasma After Getting Vaccinated For Covid
A COVID-19 vaccination wont prevent you from donating plasma. Youll be able to donate after a vaccination. You can also donate if youve received a COVID-19 vaccine booster.
There are only a few requirements to keep in mind after your COVID-19 vaccination. Youll be required to be symptom free and feel healthy on the day of your donation.
Youll also need to know which company manufactured the vaccine you received and provide their name to the plasma donation center. Your vaccination card lists this information. The three vaccines available in the United States are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
If you dont know who manufactured the vaccine you received, youll need to wait 2 weeks before donating plasma.
Blood Donation Eligibility Basic Requirements
Before we get too deep into giving blood restrictions, lets cover a few requirements that dont have anything to do with your health. In order to donate blood, you must:
- Be at least 17 years old. In some states, you can give blood at 16 years-of-age with parental consent.
- Weight at least 110 lbs. The weight limit is enforced because the amount of blood in your body is roughly proportional to your weight the bodies of individuals who weigh less than 110 lbs. may not respond well to the standard amount of blood drawn during donations.
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You Have Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hiv/aids Or May Have Been Exposed To These Diseases Via Sexual Contact
Hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDs are diseases that can be passed on via blood transfusion, and therefore individuals who suffer from these diseases are ineligible to donate blood. Unfortunately, these aforementioned diseases can be transmitted through sexual contact, so if you are not certain whether or not you may have contracted these diseases from previous sexual partners, consider deferring your donation until you are sure. All donated blood is screened for hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Sexually transmitted diseases and blood donation:
When it comes to blood donation, other STDs are often wrongly lumped into the same category as hepatitis B and C and HIV. In reality, the ARC has separate recommendations for STDs and venereal diseases.
- Gonorrhea and syphilis: You should still defer blood donation if you are not certain whether or not you may have contracted gonorrhea and syphilis. However, if you have contracted gonorrhea or syphilis, you will still donate blood so long as you complete your treatment of the disease and wait 3 full months after the treatment is completed.
- Chlamydia, HPV, and genital herpes: Individuals who suffer from chlamydia, HPV, or genital herpes are eligible to donate blood.
Can You Donate Blood If You Have Herpes Or Other Stis
Let’s be clear, if you have HIV or hepatitis — or have been exposed to those diseases — you cannot donate blood. Donors who have contracted syphilis or gonorrhea should wait at least 12 months before making a blood donation. Donors with chlamydia, HPV , or genital or oral herpes can donate blood, as long as they are feeling healthy and nothing else restricts them.
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How To Donate Plasma If You Have Herpes With Donotpay
DoNotPay is a virtual lawyer chatbot powered by Artificial Intelligence and helps users to solve several legal disputes. The chatbot has an intuitive and user-friendly interface. It can help you with donating plasma if you have herpes.
You simply need to answer a few simple questions so that it guides you on eligibility and connects you with plasma donation centers that pique your interest based on your condition.
Here’s how you can use DoNotPay to become a plasma donor:
Can You Donate Plasma If You Have Herpes
Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. It can affect any part of your body, but it is most commonly found on the genitals and mouth. Can you donate plasma if you have herpes? Well, if you have herpes and are looking for ways to make money through plasma donation, DoNotPay can help.
DoNotPay is an AI-powered chatbot that helps users fight a variety of everyday legal disputes. If you have herpes and want to make some extra cash, you don’t have to worry DoNotPay can help you donate plasma. The chatbot will easily help you find donation centers near you that accept those with herpes. This allows you to make some extra money while helping others in an easy and fast process.
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