Our highly-specialized educational programs shape leaders to be at the forefront of cancer care and research. July 2015. If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkins Disease and other cancers of the blood, you are not eligible to donate. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. If you received an injection of cadaveric pituitary human growth hormone (hGH) you cannot donate. Now that youve decided that youre eligible to donate blood, where do you donate? If you plan to donate platelets, you need to have stopped using aspirin or any aspirin-containing medicine 48 hours before your appointment. Blood donations are not tested for malaria because there is no sensitive blood test available for malaria. This requirement is related to concerns about the brain disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD). Every 15 seconds, someone in the United States needs platelets. The Food and Drug Administration suggests waiting to donate blood for at least 14 days after a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 without symptoms or for at least 14 days after symptoms of COVID-19 have completely cleared up. Acceptable as long as you do not have any limitations on daily activities and are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation and you otherwise feel well. If you have a shingles rash or a cold sore, try and keep it as clean and dry as possible. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills. Canadian standards for blood donation dictates that 17 is the earliest age at which you can donate blood. If you are taking antibiotics, then you will need to wait for 24 hours after your last dose before you can donate blood. With apheresis collection of plasma and platelets, you may be able to give more frequently than you can with whole blood donation. "All employees involved in blood collection are self-monitoring their . In some countries, regular donors over the age of 65 may be accepted at the discretion of the responsible physician. When you donate blood, you're helping others and giving back to your community. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. Dont donate if you have: If you have side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, wait until they go away. What pain medication can I take with Brilinta? How long does it take for Brilinta to work? This makes it more convenient for people to take. Please keep in mind that donor eligibility and ability to donate can change over time. Mycophenolate mofetil is used to prevent organ rejection in transplants. May not be suitable for everybody, including people with advanced HIV, allogenic bone marrow transplant, kidney problems, taking certain medications, or those who are dehydrated. Separate requirements for hemoglobin level apply for Power Red. If there is no exposure to monkeypox and you received this vaccine, there is no deferral. Discard any unused portion after 28 days. Arava (leflunomide),Erivedge (vismodegib) and Odomzo (sonidegib) wait 2 years. Individuals who have been deferred for MSM in the past can initiate donor reinstatement by contacting the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. Wait 3 months after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea. Other types of cancer are acceptable if the cancer has been treated successfully and it has been more than 12 months since treatment was completed and there has been no cancer recurrence in this time. Finasteride, dutasteride and tamsulosin treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation, Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood. If you have been diagnosed with Zika virus infection, wait more than 120 days after your symptoms resolve to donate. If you live with or have had sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis, you must wait 12 months after the last contact. Clicking on links above and printing the forms, Calling the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program at, Obtaining copies at one of the donation center locations or a mobile blood drive, Anyone who has used injected drugs, steroids or another substance not prescribed by a doctor in the past three months, Men who have had sexual contact with other men in the past three months, Anyone who has a congenital coagulation factor deficiency, Anyone who has engaged in sex for money or drugs in the past three months, Anyone who, in the past 12 months, has had close contact with lived with or had sexual contact with a person who has viral hepatitis, Anyone who has had babesiosis, a rare and severe tick-borne disease, or the parasitic infection Chagas' disease. Come prepared to your donation process with your travel details when you donate. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills. You'll also be given a. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. However, you must wait 7 days after takingBrilinta (ticagrelor) before donating platelets by apheresis. Medications for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating. Cladel NM, et al. Seek urgent medical advice if you have any signs of an allergic reaction (such as hives; difficulty breathing; facial or throat swelling). Blood volume is determined by body weight and height. Dont donate plasma if any lesions or sores are actively infected. Thalomid (thalidomide capsule). An additional waiting period of 3 years is required if you have traveled to an area where malaria is found if you have not lived a consecutive 3 years in a country or countries where malaria is not found. Activity against HSV is greater than activity against VZV. Acceptable as long as your pulse is no more than 100 and no less than 50. Sometimes, it's not possible to donate, or we may ask that you wait before donating again. How long do I have to take Brilinta after a stent or heart attack? Lower risk in-situ cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin that have been completely removed and healed do not require a 12-month waiting period. Double red cell donation takes about 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. Keep valacyclovir suspension in the refrigerator and shake well before use. Wait 6 weeks after giving birth. In one 2018 study, researchers . Someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. Those who have had infections with Chagas Disease or Leishmaniasis are not eligible to donate. Learn how blood donations help those affected by Sickle Cell Disease. If you get a nonreplicating, inactivated or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, you can donate blood without a waiting period. But only 3% of age-eligible people donate blood each year. Donating Blood & Platelets Medications That May Delay Your Donation Certain medications may delay your ability to donate blood. Wait if you do not feel well on the day of donation. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use valacyclovir only for the indication prescribed. Some medications affect your eligibility as a blood donor, for the following reasons: Experimental Medication or Unlicensed (Experimental) Vaccine is usually associated with a research study, and the effect on the safety of transfused blood is unknown. General eligibility criteria. These viruses cause illnesses such as cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles. A simple blood donation can save the life of a child with leukemia, restore the strength of a cancer patient or provide a critical transfusion to an accident victim. Platelet donors may donate as often as every eight days, and up to 24 times in a 12-month period. What medications disqualify you from donating blood/plasma? Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time). WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. OneBlood welcomes blood donations from donors 16 years old and older. It's common to be nervous about donating blood if you've never done it before. General Eligibility Requirements However, you must wait 1 month after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis. Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection. Wait at least 16 weeks between Power Red (automated) donations. And you are never too old to donate blood. Resistant strains of HSV and VZV have been reported. Platelets are small, tiny cell fragments that form clots to stop you from bleeding. Common Reasons People Can't Donate Even if you were deferred in the past, you may be eligible to donate now. Students who donate at high school drives and donors 18 years of age or younger must also meet additional height and weight requirements for whole blood donation (applies to girls shorter than 5'5" and boys shorter than 5'). Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills. If you are receiving antibiotics for a positive TB skin test or blood test only or if you are being treated for a tuberculosis infection, wait until treatment is successfully completed before donating. If you have treated yourself for genital herpes and it recurs, then seek retreatment as soon as possible. Does not appear to have any clinically significant drug-drug or drug-food interactions. This distinguishes it from Zostavax, the live shingles vaccine, which is given as a single dose (shot) and requires a 4-week deferral. Wait until finishing antibiotics for a dental infection. We know your time is valuable, and it's important to us that your donor experience is a positive one. Acyclovir has activity against several different viruses including herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1), 2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Over-the-counter oral homeopathic medications, herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements are acceptable. It is not on their list of medicines that you are unable to donate if you take. Common medications such as those used to control blood pressure, birth control pills and over-the-counter medications do not affect your eligibility. Valacyclovir treatment is best started within 24 hours of symptom onset (ie, rash, blisters, tingling, burning). Available for Android and iOS devices. Donating blood plasma is similar to donating blood. Valacyclovir is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to acyclovir after oral dosing. The dosage of valacyclovir needs to be reduced in people with kidney disease. Blood donation is a simple act that can save lives. If you take these drugs and donate blood, you may experience excessive bleeding and bruising. These high-risk groups include: Your medical record is viewed only as needed by Mayo Clinic Blood Program nurses and physicians. You can also help peoplefacing emergencies by making a financial donationto support the Red Crosss greatest needs.