what makes someone eligible to donate blood

• You are not feeling sick and are in good health.
• You are 17 years of age. In some states, you can donate blood if you are 16 years old and have parental consent.
• You weigh at least 110 lbs.
• You have not donated blood in the past 56 days.

Full Answer

How to tell if you're eligible to donate blood?

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. For all donors, the hemoglobin level can be no greater than 20 g/dL. Separate requirements for hemoglobin level apply for Power Red.

What conditions disqualify you from donating blood?

Jan 14, 2022 · You are 17 years of age. In some states, you can donate blood if you are 16 years old and have parental consent. You weigh at least 110 lbs. You have not donated blood in the past 56 days. You can also donate blood if you have: Asthma if it’s well treated, with no current shortness of breath.

Why is 50 kg the minimum weight to donate blood?

Jun 14, 2021 · Many people with blood disorders like sickle cell disease and thalassemia depend on blood donations to survive. Also, blood transfusions can be life-saving in women with childbirth complications, children with anemia, individuals who have suffered severe trauma, and patients who have complex medical conditions or have undergone surgeries. Donated blood can also …

What are the reasons why a person cannot donate blood?

Name of Office: National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) There are certain conditions that prevent a person from donating blood temporarily or permanently. Among the temporary conditions are: Pregnancy. Acute fever. Recent alcoholic intake. Ear or body piercing and tattooing. Surgery. Persons with the following conditions are not allowed to donate blood …

What excludes you from being a blood donor?

Blood and bleeding diseases or issues will often disqualify you from donating blood. If you suffer from hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, or sickle cell disease, you are not eligible to donate blood. If you have sickle cell trait, it is still acceptable for you to donate blood.Jan 15, 2021

What are the criteria which allows a person to donate blood?

Basic requirement of a potential blood donor:Weight: At least 110 lbs (50 kg).Blood volume collected will depend mainly on you body weight.Pulse rate: Between 60 and 100 beats/minute with regular rhythm.Blood pressure: Between 90 and 160 systolic and 60 and 100 diastolic.Hemoglobin: At least 125 g/L.

What disqualifies you from donating plasma?

People can't donate if they have or had tuberculosis, heart disease (and currently taking medication for it), sickle cell anemia, certain types of cancer, or malaria (contracted in the past three years or travelled to an endemic area in the past year).Nov 12, 2019

Who can donate blood?

According to the American Red Cross, you can donate blood under the following circumstances:

Who cannot donate blood?

There are certain health conditions, life circumstances, and travel experiences that mean you cannot donate blood. We’ll run through those here.

What medications will prevent you from donating blood?

Most over-the-counter (OTC) medications will not prevent you from donating blood. If you take prescription medications, check out this list from the American Red Cross to see if you can still donate blood.

Can you donate blood if you received the COVID-19 vaccine?

In short, yes. If you took the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA based) or Johnson and Johnson’s COVID shot (inactivated virus), you can donate blood. If you received another kind of COVID vaccine, or were vaccinated outside of the U.S., ask the donor site if you still qualify.

What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and why does it matter for blood donors?

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is an infectious brain disease that can pass from animals to humans. The equivalent illness in cows is called “Mad Cow Disease.” vCJD can rarely be passed through blood transfusions.

How do I prepare to donate blood?

First, go online and find a drive. You will enter your location, and a list of donation locations will appear. You will be able to choose a time slot, and make an appointment to donate blood online.

What happens after blood donation?

Your blood donation will be taken to a laboratory and will be tested for several things — the first is blood type. The different blood types are: A, B, AB, and O. All blood types are eligible for blood donation.

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

Be at least 17 years of age (16-year-olds may donate blood with a parent/guardian’s consent). Donors under the age of 17 should bring the completed consent form ( 05-FX1) when registering to donate.

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At present, you will still be deferred for three months if you obtained a tattoo outside of California or in California in a non-regulated entity. This deferral period was reduced from 12 months on September 17, 2020, based on an…. Read More. Medications.

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

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.

What are the restrictions on blood donation?

The following are just the most common restrictions for giving blood that need to be enacted. 1. You have the cold, flu, or other acute illnesses that cause fever.

Why is it important to know about the restrictions on donating blood?

Donating blood is an exceptional way to give back to your community, which is why it’s important to know about basic giving blood restrictions. The list of eligibility restrictions and rules for donating blood is extensive, and rightfully so; it’s important to keep those who receive donated blood safe. However, many of these requirements are very ...

What is the hemoglobin level of a woman?

In their eligibility requirements list (linked above) The American Red Cross states that: “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 long do you have to wait to donate platelets?

If you wish to donate only platelets, you will need to wait the space of two full days between the last time you took a pill and the day you donate blood. Blood thinners: Since blood thinners affect the ability of your blood to clot, individuals taking certain types of blood thinners will not be allowed to donate.

Can you donate blood with CJD?

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.

Cold, flu and other illnesses

The Red Cross urges prospective donors to wait to donate blood if they:

Medications

The Red Cross says that most medications will not disqualify prospective donors from being able to donate. However, the Red Cross also notes that some medications may require a waiting period after patients take their final dose before they are eligible to donate.

Low iron

Some donors are ineligible to donate because of low iron. Donation center staff conduct screening tests to measure the amount of hemoglobin present in potential donors’ blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in the body that contains iron and carries oxygen to the tissues in the body.

Travel

Potential donors may be ineligible to donate blood if they lived in or traveled to a malaria-risk country in the past three years. Travel destinations will be reviewed at the time of donation, so donors should be ready to answer questions about their travels during their donation appointment.

How often can you donate blood?

Most healthy individuals will have no problem donating blood, and can do it as often as once every eight weeks. However, there are a select few who are not able to donate their blood, and the reasons why may surprise you.

How much blood volume do you need to donate?

In order to donate blood you must have at least 3400 mL of blood volume. Blood volume is determined by body weight and height, and individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate losing so much blood.

Can you donate blood with Coumadin?

Those who have a health condition where their blood doesn't clot normally, or are on anticoagulant medications such as Coumadin (warfarin), should not donate blood as they may have excessive bleeding where the needle was placed. However, according to the ARC they are not automatically disqualified from donating blood.

How long after getting a tattoo can you donate blood?

Due to concerns about hepatitis, in Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia donors are asked to wait a year after getting a tattoo and a year after getting a piercing from a “questionable source” before donating blood.

How long do you have to wait to donate blood?

If they lived in a malaria-risk country for more than five years, they are asked to wait three years after returning to the U.S. before donating blood.

Can you donate blood after taking antibiotics?

However, even in the case where the infection is transmissible through blood, individuals are allowed to donate blood after they have finished their course of oral antibiotics, even if the last pill was taken on the day of the donation.

How many people can donate blood?

Red blood cell, plasma, and platelets all the components of blood are vital for a lifeline. But, are you aware that only one in thirty people can donate blood.

How long do you have to wait to donate blood after getting a tattoo?

If you get a tattoo done from such places you have to wait for 12 months before donating blood, else you might spread infection (2). Always discuss your situation with a healthcare professional. Also, if gone for certain cosmetic treatments which require piecing with needles you got to wait at least for 4 months.

How long after syphilis can you donate blood?

In some, despite getting the treatment, they need to be re-treated. If wanting to donate blood, you should wait for 12 months after getting fully treated.