Who can donate blood
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Anyone who is at least 18 years old and in good health can donate blood once every 56 days, which is 6 times per year (It is usually recommended that women leave 16 weeks and men 12 weeks between donations). It is important to get into the habit of giving blood because the responsibility for maintaining the collective blood supply belongs to all.
A meal is recommended at least four hours prior to donation. Drink plenty of fluids. You must weigh at least 110 pounds (49 kgs) to be eligible for blood donation for your own safety. Blood volume is in proportion to body weight. Donors who weigh less than 110 pounds may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood
Qualification at the time of collection
In order to ensure donor and patient safety, everyone who wishes to make a blood donation is evaluated first. This evaluation is important as it gives details concerning the donor’s state of health and whether the donor has been involved in activities that carry a risk of blood contamination.
The evaluation is based on a health questionnaire, checking the donor’s vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and verifying the hemoglobin level of all individuals who arrive at a blood drive or a Donor Centre.
You may be excluded from giving blood, For various reasons. The exclusion may be temporary or permanent. A Medical personnel assigned to the selection procedure will explain why you are being excluded.
Temporary exclusion
The following list of reasons for temporary exclusion is not exhaustive.
Anyone whose vital signs do not fall within an acceptable range cannot give blood.
- -Body temperature above 37.5 °C
- -Blood pressure over 180/100 mmHg
- -Hemoglobin level too low ( 12.5 g/dl) - A hemoglobinlevel that is too low means that giving blood could cause you discomfort since your body could take more time to regenerate the 450 ml of blood you would donate.
- - Recent vaccination- you have had certain immunisations within the last four weeks
- - Recent major surgery
- - Pregnancy- you are pregnant or have given birth in the last six months
- - you have a chesty cough, sore throat or an active cold sore
- - If you are taking certain medications- i.e you are taking antibiotics or have finished a course of antibiotics in the last seven days
- - you have had hepatitis A or jaundice in the last 12 months
- - you have had an ear piercing or body piercing in the last four months
- - you have had a tattoo in the last four months. One is given a One-year deferral.
- - you have had acupuncture in the last four months, unless this was by a qualified healthcare professional registered with the statutory body
- - you have had complicated dental work (it is safe to donate blood 24 hours after having a filling or seven days after a simple extraction)
- - Diabetes controlled by insulin - Acceptable as long as it is well controlled, whether medication is taken or not.
People who are temporarily excluded from donating blood are invited to return after the prescribed waiting period, depending on their condition.
Permanent exclusion
The following situations constitute justification for permanent exclusion from making donations. This list is not exclusive.
- - a member of your immediate family has had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare condition that affects the nervous system and causes brain damage
- - Certain kinds of hepatitis (B or C, for example)
- - Cirrhosis of the liver
- - Myocardial infarction
- - Ischemic heart failure
- - Coronary bypass
- - Multiple sclerosis
- - you have ever had HIV
- - you have ever had syphilis
- - you have ever had human t-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)
- - you have ever injected yourself with drugs - The healthcare professional also examines the donor’s arms to ensure that there are no signs of intravenous drug use.
- - you have ever worked as a prostitute
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.