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To ensure the well being of our donors as well as the safety of the community blood supply, donors must meet a number of requirements before giving blood.

To give blood, you must:

• be in generally good health, free from cold or flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before giving blood.
• be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent) There is no upper age limit.
• weigh at least 110 pounds.
• bring photo identification or BloodSource donor card.

You cannot give blood if you:

• had hepatitis after age 10.
• have or had heart problems (high blood pressure that is under control is okay; however, it must not be higher than 180 systolic and 100 diastolic).
• are pregnant or have been pregnant in the last six weeks.
• are taking antibiotics for infection. (See medications below for more information.)
• have AIDS, are at risk for AIDS, or have had sexual contact with anyone at risk for AIDS.
• had leukemia or myeloma; okay for superficial skin cancer. Most other types of cancer are acceptable if symptom free one year after last treatment.

Donors are asked about medications to indicate their general health. For example, someone who is taking drugs for cancer or heart disease will not be accepted as a blood donor.

Other medications may require that a blood donor be deferred temporarily (for example, antibiotics for an infection).

Common Medications

• Aspirin/Tylenol
• -Plateletphereis and Red blood-cell apheresis donors -

48-hour deferral if aspirin was taken. Tylenol is acceptable if taken in moderate doses.

• -Whole blood donors -

okay if not taken for cold or flu.

• Blood pressure medication

Okay if donor meets requirement (equal to or below 180/100).

• Birth control/hormone replacement

Okay.

• Thyroid medication

Okay if condition is stabilized.

• Antibiotics

Okay for skin problems (e.g. acne) only.

• Accutane, Proscar and Propecia

One month deferral following last dose.

• Adovart

Six month deferral.

• Soritane

Three year deferral.

• Tegison

Permanent deferral.

• Diabetes medication

Okay if diabetes is controlled by diet or medication. (No change in medication for two weeks and free from complications.)

• Depression medication

Okay.

• Allergy medication

Okay.

Circumstances that may result in a temporary deferral from giving blood include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Cold, respiratory infection, fever, or sore throat: Must be symptom free and medication free for at least 48 hours.

Travel to an area where malaria is prevalent: One-year deferral. (Please inquire with medical staff for specific locations.)

Ear piercing: Okay, if done in a jewelry store or doctor's office, with new, sterile earrings. Otherwise, one-year deferral.

Body piercing: Okay if done with a disposable needle. Otherwise, one-year deferral.

Tattoo: One-year deferral.

Acupuncture: Okay if disposable needles are used; otherwise, one-year deferral.

Minor surgery: Usually a six-week deferral.

Major surgery: Okay when released by physician unless blood was transfused, in which case there is a one-year deferral period.

Pregnancy/delivery: Six-week deferral after normal delivery. Six-week deferral following Caesarean section, or until released by physician.

Due to the theoretical risk of a disease in cattle (Mad Cow Disease), travel to some areas of the world could result in a deferral. (Please inquire with medical staff for specific locations.)

Do not donate blood if you have ever tested positive for HIV antibodies, are a past or present sexual partner of someone at risk for AIDS, or if:

• you have ever injected illegal drugs with a needle, even once.
• you are a man and have had sex with another man since 1977, even once.
• you have hemophilia or related blood clotting disorder and received clotting factor concentrates.
• you have engaged in sex for drugs or money since 1977.
• you have had sex with any person meeting one or more of the above descriptions in the past 12 months.
• you are donating blood just to obtain an AIDS (HIV) test. The locations of alternate test sites are posted in the Blood Center and available from our staff. The Blood Center may not notify a person of a positive HIV test result for 50 days.