when are you too old to donate blood

What is the minimum and maximum age to donate blood?

You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply, or 16 years old with parental/guardian consent, if allowed by state law. 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

Can seniors still donate blood?

When are you too old to donate blood? You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply, or 16 years old with parental/guardian consent, if allowed by state law. There is no upper age limit for donating blood as long as you are in good health, with no restrictions or limitations on your activities.

What conditions disqualify you from donating blood?

Jan 25, 2013 · In general, you can donate blood if: You are at least 17 years old; You weigh at least 100 pounds; You are in good health (a mini physical exam will take place at the blood donation location) It’s been at least eight weeks since your last blood donation; Usually, you cannot donate blood if: You had hepatitis when you were 11 years or older; You have received a …

What are the reasons why a person cannot donate blood?

Study design and methods: Twelve blood center members of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative from four countries with no upper age limit for whole blood and double RBC donation (Canada, New Zealand, England, and the United States) or an upper age limit of 80 (Australia) provided 2016 data on donors and donations, deferral rates, and vasovagal …

Can 75 yr old give blood?

It's a common myth that seniors are “too old” to donate blood. But as long as you meet the eligibility requirements, there is no upper age limit on blood donation. Your blood can save somebody's life just as well as a younger person's!Jan 25, 2013

Is 70 too old to give blood?

Blood donation by regular repeat blood donors older than 71 years may be safely continued. However, due to a lack of data for donors older than 75 years, blood donation in these donors should be handled with great caution.

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.

What medications disqualify you from giving blood?

The following medications will prevent you from donating blood:Accutane.Antibiotics *Donors who are taking antibiotics are eligible to donate 24 hours after their last dose.Anti-Platelet Medications.Avodart.Blood thinners (such as Coumadin, Heparin, Lovenox, Warfarin)Bovine insulin.Hepatitis B Immune Globulin.More items...

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 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 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 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.

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.

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

In general, you can donate blood if: You are at least 17 years old. You weigh at least 100 pounds. You are in good health (a mini physical exam will take place at the blood donation location) It’s been at least eight weeks since your last blood donation.

How many units of blood are used in the United States every day?

Author: Griswold Home Care. Every day, about 44,000 units of blood are used to save lives across the United States. This blood is vital for cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, and victims of accidents.

Is there an age limit for blood donation?

It’s a common myth that seniors are “too old” to donate blood. But as long as you meet the eligibility requirements, there is no upper age limit on blood donation.