Blood Donation Requirements & Eligibility Information
Blood Donation Requirements & Eligibility Information
Basic Blood Donation Requirements
Most people in good health, at least 18 years old, and weighing at least 110 pounds may donate whole blood every 56 days. Review basic blood donation requirements and schedule your appointment today.
Health requirements
You must be in good health and feeling well on the day of your blood donation. When you donate, you’ll undergo a confidential screening interview and mini-health check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and iron level. Here are some ways you can prep for your donation.
Not everyone is eligible to donate. Some health conditions, medications, or travel may temporarily or permanently prevent people from donating blood. Read more below and for specific questions, contact our Eligibility team at [email protected] or (425)656-3077 (option 1)
Weight requirements
You must weigh at least 110 pounds to donate blood. There are additional weight requirements for teen donors:
- First-time 16 or 17 year old donors who weigh at least 114 pounds may donate at Bloodworks NW donor center.
- First-time 16 or 17 year old male donors who weigh at least 114 pounds may donate at a mobile blood drive.
- First-time 16 or 17 year old female donors who weigh at least 125 pounds may donate at a mobile blood drive.
- Mobile blood drive weight requirements for 16 or 17 year olds are to improve our young first-time donors’ experience, and minimize chances of vasovagal reaction.
Age requirements
You must be at least 18 years old to donate blood. There is no upper age limit.
Washington: 16 or 17 year olds donating in Washington must have a Bloodworks Northwest permission form signed by a parent or guardian to donate. Form must be printed on white paper only.
Oregon: 16 or 17 year olds donating in Oregon do not require a Bloodworks permission form, unless requested by the donor group(s).
Blood Donation Eligibility: Medications, Medical Conditions & Other Restrictions
The charts below detail blood donation eligibility and restrictions based on certain medications, medical conditions, recent vaccines, and other potential conditions that may restrict your ability to donate blood at this time.
Blood Donation Eligibility: Medications, Medical Conditions & Other Restrictions
The charts below detail blood donation eligibility and restrictions based on certain medications, medical conditions, recent vaccines, and other potential conditions that may restrict your ability to donate blood at this time.
Medications
Most medications won’t impact your ability to donate blood. The reason your physician prescribed a specific medication sometimes determines eligibility. Please review our list of common medications below or read our disqualifying medication deferral list. Contact us with questions.
| Antibiotics (used for Acne is acceptable), Injectable, Oral | Must wait 7 days after you have completed your prescription before you can donate |
| Antidepressants | Can Donate |
| Antiretroviral Medication, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) or any medication used to treat HIV/AIDS | Cannot Donate |
| Allergy medications, diuretics, diet pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, Tylenol | Can Donate |
| Aspirin | Can donate blood, but not platelets |
| Blood Pressure Medication (most types) | Can Donate |
| CBD (cannabidiol; topical or oral) | Can Donate |
| Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and/or Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or any medication used to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. | Three-Month wait |
| Antibiotics (used for Acne is acceptable), Injectable, Oral | Must wait 7 days after you have completed your prescription before you can donate |
| Antidepressants | Can Donate |
| Antiretroviral Medication, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) or any medication used to treat HIV/AIDS | Cannot Donate |
| Allergy medications, diuretics, diet pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, Tylenol | Can Donate |
| Aspirin | Can donate blood, but not platelets |
| Blood Pressure Medication (most types) | Can Donate |
| CBD (cannabidiol; topical or oral) | Can Donate |
| Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and/or Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or any medication used to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. | Three-Month wait |
Vaccinations
Most vaccines won’t impact your blood donation eligibility. Review the list of common vaccines below to understand whether a recent vaccination requires a waiting period before donating blood.
| Measles (rubella) and MMR | One-Month Wait |
| Influenza | Can Donate |
| Hepatitis B | Two-Week Wait |
| RSV | Can Donate |
| COVID-19 & Bivalant Boosters | Can Donate |
| Shingles (Shingrix) | Can Donate |
| Monkeypox | Can Donate |
Medical Conditions
Review the list of medical conditions below to understand whether a condition or related treatment will impact your ability to donate blood.
| HIV/AIDS, individuals at high risk and their partners | Cannot Donate |
| Cold and Flu: You should not donate today if you are currently experiencing symptoms of a “cold” or “flu” | Cannot Donate Today |
| Diabetes, on or off medication and under control | Can Donate |
| Non-viral Hepatitis, previous Hepatitis A | Can Donate |
| Viral Hepatitis B, C, D | Cannot Donate |
| Pregnancy | Cannot Donate |
| Pregnancy, after delivery, miscarriage, abortion | Six-Week Wait |
| Menstruation | Can Donate |
| Cancer, treatment complete and disease-free; most types* | One Year Wait |
| Low blood count / Low iron | Read More |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed by a physician | Cannot Donate |
| Multiple sclerosis, or MS | Depends on treatment plan. Email or call (425) 656-3077 (option 1) |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | Depends on treatment plan. Email or call (425) 656-3077 (option 1) |
| Lupus | Depends on treatment plan. Email or call (425) 656-3077 (option 1) |
| Crohn’s Disease | Depends on treatment plan. Email or call (425) 656-3077 (option 1) |
| IBS | Depends on treatment plan. Email or call (425) 656-3077 (option 1) |
*Note: People with, or who have had, cancer, should contact the Clinical Specialist at (425)656-3077 to determine eligibility.
You Cannot get AIDS From Donating Blood
Only sterile, disposable equipment is used throughout the donation process, which makes it virtually impossible to contract a disease from donating blood.
Medical Procedures
Review the list of common medical procedures below to understand whether a recent procedure requires a waiting period before donating blood.
| Localized Basal Cell or Squamous Cell Skin Cell Cancer Removal | Can Donate |
| Surgery, Dental Bone or Gum Graft | Contact Us |
| Surgery, without transfusion or certain all transfusions were Autologous | Can Donate |
| Surgery, with transfusion | Three-Month Wait |
| Transfusion | Three-Month Wait |
Other Possible Blood Donation Restrictions
| Ear/Body Piercing, sterile procedure and single use equipment used | Can Donate |
| Ear/Body Piercing, non-sterile procedure or non-single use equipment used | Three-Month Wait |
| Tattooing, in a state licensed facility in the U.S., excluding facilities in District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming | Can Donate |
| Tattooing, non-state licensed facility, a facility outside U.S., or tattoos performed in the following states: District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming | Three-Month Wait |
| Travel outside the US or Canada | Learn More > |
| Donor deferral, men who have sex with men (MSM) | Learn More > |
| Nicotine, Alcohol, or Cannabis | Can Donate; avoid alcohol or cannabis use before and after donation. We cannot accept donations from anyone under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or prescription drugs. |
Have More Questions About Blood Donation?
Please call a Clinical Specialist at (425) 656-3077 (option 1)
or email [email protected]
Blood Donation News & Announcements
New Era of Blood Donor Eligibility
More gay, bisexual men can now donate blood and introducing new gender-neutral questionnaire
COVID 19 Information
No wait to donate blood if you receive
most COVID vaccines
Mad Cow Blood Donor Ban Update
Deferral requirement associated UK, France, and Ireland has lifted
Blood Donation News & Announcements
New Era of Blood Donor Eligibility
More gay, bisexual men can now donate blood and introducing new gender-neutral questionnaire
COVID 19 Information
No wait to donate blood if you receive
most COVID vaccines
Mad Cow Blood Donor Ban Update
Deferral requirement associated UK, France, and Ireland has lifted
