can you donate blood when you're sick?

Nope, you won't be allowed to donate when you have the flu. It could make you sicker, because well your body shouldn't be losing blood when it is already working overtime. Most place that you donate will also not allow you to give blood if you have been sick recently.

Full Answer

Can I donate blood if I have a cold or flu?

Jun 07, 2017 · It is advised that you are free of flu and cold symptoms, for at least 48 hours, before you donate blood. This is because donating with cold will lower your immune system, and will further push ...

Can I donate blood if I have sickle cell disease?

You should not donate blood when you're sick. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood. Symptoms of the flu include a cough, fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and sore throat. Cold symptoms may be similar, but colds are less likely to cause fever or headaches.

Can I donate blood if I have an acute infection?

Jun 05, 2019 · If you have a cold or the flu, you can donate blood, as normal, 7 days after you've recovered from your symptoms. If you recently had the flu vaccination and are feeling well, you can still donate blood. Because it's not a 'live' vaccine, flu …

How often do you have to donate blood?

Nope, you won't be allowed to donate when you have the flu. It could make you sicker, because well your body shouldn't be losing blood when it is already working overtime. Most place that you donate will also not allow you to give blood if you have been sick recently.

What happens if you donate blood while sick?

Having a cold or the flu doesn't affect the blood you're 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.Jan 15, 2021

Can I donate blood with a stuffy nose?

NOTE: DONOR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ALLERGY, STUFFY NOSE, ITCHY EYES, DRY COUGH: Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever and have no problems breathing.

How long after being sick can I give blood?

You should not donate blood when you're sick. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood.

Can I donate blood with runny nose?

Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough (bringing up phlegm). Wait if you do not feel well on the day of donation. Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection.

Can a person with cold donate blood?

You must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection.

Why do they check your elbows when donating plasma?

Because arteries have higher blood pressure than veins, a puncture can lead to bleeding into the arm tissues around the puncture site. The signs of an arterial puncture include a faster blood flow and lighter-than-usual color of blood running through the tubes to the machine collecting your plasma.

Who Cannot donate blood?

Persons with the following conditions are not allowed to donate blood anyime:Cancer.Cardiac disease.Sever lung disease.Hepatitis B and C.HIV infection, AIDS or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)High risk occupation (e.g. prostitution)Unexplained weight loss of more than 5 kg over 6 months.Chronic alcoholism.More items...

Can I donate blood while taking amoxicillin?

If you are taking antibiotics for a current infection, the infection must have resolved at least one week ago and the antibiotics completed five days before donating.

At what age blood can be donated?

between 18 and 65Age: You are aged between 18 and 65. * In some countries national legislation permits 16–17 year-olds to donate provided that they fulfil the physical and hematological criteria required and that appropriate consent is obtained.

How long after a cold can you donate blood?

If you have a cold or the flu, you can donate blood, as normal, 7 days after you've recovered from your symptoms. If you recently had the flu vaccination and are feeling well, you can still donate blood. Because it's not a 'live' vaccine, flu vaccination does not affect blood donation.

How many lives can you save by giving blood?

Every blood donation can help save 3 lives. Even if you have a cold or are getting over the flu, you may still be able to help. If you don't have a cold or the flu, visit Donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95 to check if you're eligible and to make an appointment.

How to donate plasma?

What you can do 1 If you don't have a cold or the flu, visit Donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95 to check if you're eligible and to make an appointment. 2 If you have a cold and have mild symptoms — such as a runny nose — but you don't have a fever, you can still donate plasma. Plasma is the fluid that carries the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. 3 If you have a cold or the flu, you can donate blood, as normal, 7 days after you've recovered from your symptoms. 4 If you recently had the flu vaccination and are feeling well, you can still donate blood. Because it's not a 'live' vaccine, flu vaccination does not affect blood donation.

How to relax while you donate?

You'll relax on a comfy chair or couch while you donate. You can read, chat with staff members or watch TV. Staff will monitor you closely to ensure you're OK, but speak up if you feel uncomfortable or worried.

How long do you stay on the couch after donating?

After your donation is completed, you'll rest on the couch for around 5 to 10 minutes. Then, you'll be invited to the refreshments area to relax for another 15 minutes with a complimentary drink and snack.

How long do you have to wait to donate blood?

Wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood (standard) donations. Wait at least 7 days between platelet (pheresis) donations . Wait at least 16 weeks between Power Red (automated) donations. First-time male donors may be eligible to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man in more than 3 months.

How to contact the Red Cross for blood donation?

Individuals with questions about their donation eligibility can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. For the purposes of blood donation gender is self-identified and self-reported, which is relevant to the transgender community.

What is the age limit for blood donation?

There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation. Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood.

How long after taking aspirin can you donate blood?

Aspirin. Aspirin, no waiting period for donating whole blood. However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you may donate platelets is Thursday.

How long after blood transfusion can you donate?

Blood Transfusion. Wait for 3 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in the United States. You may not donate if you received a blood transfusion since 1980 in France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Falkland Islands.

Does the Red Cross accept hemochromatosis?

American Red Cross does not accept individuals with hemochromatosis as blood donors. Learn more about Hematocrit here. Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count. In order to donate blood, a woman must have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dL, and a man must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.0 g/dL.

How is blood volume determined?

Blood volume is determined by body weight and height. Individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood given with whole blood donation. There is no upper weight limit as long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor bed/lounge you are using.

Dr Prathip Kumar B R, Consultant, Technical Director & Incharge of Stem Cell & Transfusion Medicine at Narayana Health City explains

If there's an active infection or fever, then one cannot donate blood unless and until the infection has resolved completely before donating blood. One must understand that if a person is on antibiotics, then he or she must be having an infection.

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