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There are many permanent or temporary reasons someone may not be eligible to donate blood. The most common reasons are listed below. Some medications or medical conditions can also impact your donation eligibility. Links to those are included below.

THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR NOT BEING  ABLE TO GIVE BLOOD

Temporary Reasons

Condition

Length of time before you can give blood

Not feeling well for any reason 

until symptoms are over

Cold, sore throat, respiratory infection, flu

until 3 days after symptoms are over

Travel to an area of the world where malaria is a problem

12 months after return

Certain cases of heart disease

contact us for medical eligibility at 1-800-688-0900

Ears, nose or skin piercing

12 months after procedure unless done under sterile conditions

Tattoos

if applied in NJ, no wait: If elsewhere, 12 months after application

Blood transfusion

12 months after receiving blood

Full-term pregnancy, abortion or miscarriage

six weeks after end of pregnancy

Surgery, serious injury

when healing is complete and feeling well

Syphilis, gonorrhea

12 months after treatment completed

Have had certain forms of cancer

contact us regarding medical eligibility 1-800-688-0900

Have had sex with someone who has viral hepatitis

12 months after last incident

You are a woman who had sex with anyone listed in the first five items under Permanent Reasons below

12 months after last incident

You are a man who had sex with anyone listed in the first four items under Permanent Reasons below (Note that the fifth item is a permanent exclusion for men).

12 months after last incident

 

Medications

Antibiotics (except antibiotics for acne) if taken for infection

when treatment is complete

Accutane, Proscar and Propecia

1 month after taking last dose

Avodart

6 months after taking last dose

Soriatane

3 years after taking last dose

Coumadin

14 days after taking


Permanent Reasons

Please do not give blood if you:

  • Have used illegal drugs with a needle, even once
  • Are a hemophiliac
  • Have ever had a positive test for HIV (AIDS virus)
  • Are a man or woman who has had sex for money or drugs any time since 1977
  • Are a man who has had sex with another man since 1977, even once
  • Had viral hepatitis or a positive test for viral hepatitis  any time after your eleventh birthday
  • Had certain forms of cancer (contact us regarding medical eligibility at 1-800-688-0900)
  • Had babesiosis or Chagas disease
  • Have taken Tegison for psoriasis
  • Have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and/or a blood relative who had CJD
  • Had a corneal transplant

Notes:

  • Most people with diabetes, and most people on medications other than those noted above, are eligible to donate blood. For specific medical eligibility guidelines, call us at 1-800-688-0900.
  • People who have been in certain countries outside the United States may be deferred depending on the country and the length of time spent there.
  • The reasons for not being eligible to donate blood may have changed after this brochure was printed.

An Urgent Request: Please do not give blood just to find out your HIV (AIDS virus) test results. If you need information on where to go for confidential HIV testing, please call your local health department.

 

Medication Deferral List
Medical Conditions Guidelines
Immunizations and Vaccinations
Countries at risk for vCJD: | English | Spanish | Chinese | Korean |



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