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Donor Eligibility

Giving The Gift Of Life Is Safe And Simple
Most healthy people can be blood donors. In about one hour, donors complete a short medical history; have temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin measured; recline comfortably for 5-10 minutes while donating; and enjoy refreshments before leaving. Only disposable, single-use products are used to collect blood. You cannot get AIDS giving blood.

Please eat a meal and drink extra fluids within the 6 hours before donating.

Donor Eligibility Information Requirements:

Age
17 years minimum (no maximum limit)

Health
Generally in good health, you must be well for 3 days (no symptoms of illness including colds)

Weight
110 pounds minimum

Identification
Photo ID (such as driver’s license) must be presented

To give whole blood
Wait 56 days after a whole blood donation or 14 days after a platelet donation

To give platelets
Wait 14 days after a whole blood or an ABC (automated blood donation)

CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS-SOME MAY REQUIRE TEMPORARY WAITS BEFORE YOU MAY DONATE

Antibiotic therapy
24-hour wait after last dose, plus you must be well for at least 3 days

Asthma
No wait if symptom free at time of donation (medication controlled okay)

Blood Pressure
No wait if, blood pressure is less than or equal to 180/100 (medication controlled okay)

Cancer
Basal cell & Squamous cell skin, or cervical in-situ – no wait. Most other cancers – be 5 years cancer free and before you donate, a form must be completed by your physician for our Medical Director to review.  Call 703-208-7000 for form and details.

Dental Care
24-hour wait after routine procedures-cleanings, fillings; 72-hour wait after root canal or surgery

Diabetes
No wait when controlled by diet or medication

Heart Attack history
Before coming to donate, please consult your doctor and bring a written approval for donation.

Immunizations (shots)
Allergy or flu vaccines-no wait; Hepatitis B Vaccine-24 hour wait; Others 24-hour to 4-week waits

Malaria Travel To Malarial Areas
1-year wait (symptom free) after return from visiting malarial endemic area for less than five consecutive years

3-year wait (symptom free) after living in a malaria endemic area for five consecutive years or more; or after any episode suggestive of malarial disease. (residence is not consecutive if the individual leaves the malaria endemic area for greater than one continuous year)

Piercing (ear/body)
No wait when done in a professional setting with sterile single-use equipment

1-year wait after accidental needle stick or any other non-sterile skin penetration

Pregnancy
6-weeks wait after vaginal delivery; 6 month wait after C-section

Seizure
6-month wait after last seizure occurrence (medication controlled okay)

Surgery
2 to 12-week waits after minor procedures; 6 months after major procedures

Tattoo
1-week wait when done in professional setting with sterile single-use equipment.

Travel
Visited or lived in any country with malaria risk - please see malaria above

European travel/residence–you may not donate blood or platelets at this time if your visits or residence matches or exceeds the total accumulated time during the stated periods in the listed countries.

• European Countries for >=5 years (1980- present): Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosinia-Heerzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro,  Netherland, Norway, Poland, Portugal (Azores), Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
  
  
• Geographic Deferral for United Kingdom >=3 months (1980-1996): England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, the Channel Island, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands.
  
  
• Military Travel Deferral: Total time of 6 months or more associated with a military base in: From 1980 – 1990 in Belgium, Germany, the NetherlandsFrom 1980 – 1996 in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy and/or Greece

You may not donate blood if you: tested positive for or have HIV/AIDS, or participated in events known increase exposure to the HIV/AIDS virus; tested positive for viral hepatitis at any time or had viral hepatitis after your 11th birthday; have Auto Immune Disease; or had/have Hodgkin’s Disease, Leukemia, Lymphoma or a Melanoma.

For more specific information about your eligibility to donate blood, please call the donor advocate at 571-434-3628.

rev 2/1/07