Can I Donate Blood? Requirements from Blood Centers of the Pacific

[REP]

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS


AGE: 17 (16 year-olds can donate with written permission of parent or guardian).

WEIGHT: At least 110 pounds

DIET: A well-balanced meal is recommended within four hours of donation.

HEALTH: General good health

IDENTIFICATION: Valid identification such as a driver's license, DMV identification card, passport, social security number, etc.



Do not donate if any of the following apply to you:


AIDS: You are a person with symptoms or laboratory evidence of HIV infection.

CANCER: Hematological, ie: Hodgkin, Leukemia, Lymphomas

HEPATITIS: A history of the disease after the age of 11, or a positive lab test for the virus.

ORGAN FAILURE: Kidney, lung or liver failure.

RECREATIONAL DRUG USE (by injection): Having injected yourself with drugs not prescribed by a physician.

UNITED KINGDOM: You have visited or lived in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Gibraltar or Falkland Islands for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 thru 1996.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: If you have spent a cumulative of 5 years or more since 1980.

U.S. MILITARY/DEPENDENTS/CIVILIAN
MILITARY EMPLOYEE: If you are U.S. Military / Dependent / Civilian Military Employee who spent a cumulative of six months or more between 1980 thru 1996 associated with a military base in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece.

TRAVEL: Travel to certain countries may temporarily restrict you from donating blood. Please call 1-888-393-GIVE to learn more.

SEXUAL HISTORY: You are a man who has had sex with another man since 1977 or you have engaged in sex for money or drugs since 1977.



QUESTIONS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY


You may need to wait before donating blood if you have any of these conditions:


CONDITION

Allergy
No Wait

Abortion/Miscarriage
6 week wait if pregnancy terminated in third trimester, otherwise no wait

Acupuncture
Can donate if single-use equipment is used

Alcohol Consumption
No wait unless intoxicated

Anemia (past diagnosis)
No wait if corrected

Blood Donation, Apheresis
48 Hours

Blood Donation, Whole
8 Weeks

Cancer, treated surgically with radiation or chemotherapy, except for hematological cancers
1 Year

Cold
No wait if no sore throat or fever

Cough
No wait if no sore throat or fever

Sore Throat
Until well, no symptoms

Diabetes
No wait if medically controlled

Ear and Body Piercing
See Acupuncture

Electrolysis
See Acupuncture

Gonorrhea
1 Year

Heart Disease - Angina or Heart Attack (M.I., No Heart Medication)
1 Year

Heart Disease - Angioplasty or Bypass Surgery (No Heart Medication)
1 Year

Hepatitis Contact
Depends on Type

Herpes
Free of Fever/Systemic Symptoms

High Blood Pressure
No Wait if Medically Controlled

Malaria/Immigration from Malarial Area
3 Years

Travel to Malarial Area
1 Years

Pregnancy
6 Week Wait After Delivery

Recent Surgery
When Released from MD's Care

Syphilis
1 Year

Tattoo
1 Year




IMMUNIZATION/VACCINES (SHOTS)

Flu/Pneumonia Vaccine
No Wait

MMR
4 Weeks

Rubeola (Measles), Yellow Fever, Mumps and Oral Polio
2 Weeks

Rebella (German Measles)
4 Weeks

Hepatitis A and B
No Wait

TB Skin Test
48 Hours

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid and Cholera
No Wait

Varicella (Chicken Pox)
4 Weeks

Allergy Shots
No Wait




MEDICATIONS

Accutane
1 Month

Allergy Medications
No Wait

Antibiotics
After Last Dose

Flagyl
No Wait

High Blood Pressure Medicine
Not Wait

Oral Contraceptives
No Wait

Propecia
1 Month

Proscar
1 Month

Tegison (for Psoriasis)
Permanently Deferred

Tetracycline for Acne
No Wait

Vitamins
No Wait

[SofaKingLiberal]

1. Thanks for posting this.

[craychek]

2. Question

I know with the red cross at least they also require that you have not had a positive TB test.

The only reason why I know this is that I was working in the ICU and I picked up TB there from a patient and though my body fought it off and I have no evidence of it in my body, I still have a positive tb test and the red cross won't let me donate =(

So is this with the red cross or some place else?

[REP]

3. Blood Centers of the Pacific

Just like I put in the HEADER.

[REP]

4. Kick for Blood~

[REP]

5. kick

[nashbridges]

6. and what?

You aren't qualified, and you are pissed?

I'll tell you what, be a person who needs blood to live and then get something you can't survive with from the very blood that gives you life. Then get all self-righteous. Otherwise, STFU.

[REP]

7. Please Pick Up The Clue Phone

Informational post. Question had been asked; this post answers it. Thank you for calling Clue Phone. Please drive through.

[WHAT]

8. I don't understand your post...

you seem upset about something...I think it might be a complicated situation.

I know a person who tried to donate blood after 9-11 but was refused because of a history of breast cancer with subsequent radiation therapy. According to the guidelines above, her blood would be acceptable now, except, she has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer triggered by the radiation therapy itself...just diagnosed.

Is this the type of conundrum that has you worried about blood?

Mistakes happen and nothing is guaranteed but I hope you're not put-off by the lack of certainty in life. Sometimes things are scary...

[REP]

9. Poster Misunderstood Intention of this Informative Post

May people have posted asking if they could donate blood. Rather than follow up every one of those, I made this post listing the requirements for donors per the Blood Centers of the Pacific. I cannot answer if this person or that person can or cannot donate, but I can provide the guidelines from a bloodbank.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. And I for one thank you for your informative post

Please keep up the good work for a great cause.