Am I eligible to donate blood?
UPDATE: As of July 15, 2020, Bloodworks implemented new FDA blood donor eligibility guidance (April 2, 2020 Statement) supported by studies and epidemiologic data. The changes affect several blood donation criteria, such as travel, exposure risks and medications resulting in revised deferral periods for men who have sex with men (MSM); Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (vCJD or mad cow disease), tattoos/piercings, travel to malarial endemic areas, and others. If you were deferred in the past, please contact us at 800-398-7888 to determine your eligibility according to the new criteria. Read about the updates here. We applaud the FDA’s important step toward increasing opportunity to save lives and look forward to welcoming more people to join our team of lifesavers.
Who can donate?
- Anyone who is in good health, at least 18 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate whole blood every 56 days.
- Washington: 16 or 17 year olds donating in Washington must have a Bloodworks Northwest permission form signed by a parent or guardian to donate.
- Oregon: 16 or 17 year olds donating in Oregon do not require a Bloodworks permission form, unless requested by the donor group(s).
- 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.
Questions regarding blood or apheresis donations, call: 800-398-7888.
Questions About Eligibility
Some health conditions or medications may temporarily or permanently prevent persons from donating blood.
If you have a question regarding your eligibility to donate blood and would like to discuss it with someone:
- Email clinicalp@bloodworksnw.org -OR-
- Call 1-800-366-2831, extension 2543
Medical Conditions
| 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 | Read more |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed by a physician | cannot donate |
*Note: People with, or who have had, cancer, should contact the Clinical Specialist at 206-292-2543 to determine eligibility.
Medical Procedures
| Surgery, without transfusion or certain all transfusions were Autologous | can donate |
| Surgery, with transfusion | 3-month wait |
| Transfusion | 3-month wait |
Medications
| Antibiotics (used for Acne is acceptable), Injectable, Oral | can donate if not currently(same day as donation) taking and infection free |
| 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 |
| Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and/or Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or any medication used to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. | three-month wait |
Vaccinations
| Measles (rubella) and MMR | one-month wait |
| Flu | can donate |
| Hepatitis B | two-week wait |
Other Possible 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 | Read more |
| Donor deferral, men who have sex with men (MSM) | Read more |
Questions
If you have additional questions regarding eligibility:
- Please call the Clinical Specialist at (206) 292-2543 or (800) DONATE-1, x2543 -OR-
- Email: ClinicalProgram@bloodworksnw.org
Information about COVID-19
Information about COVID-19
Information about Emergent Diseases
Information about Emergent Diseases [PDF]
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.
Give time, give money.
Volunteer now
Be a part of the lifesaving link that delivers blood to patients in need.
Give a gift
We are an independent community-based nonprofit organization. Support our life saving research with a financial gift.
Tree of Life award
Find out about this award for 100+ unit donors.
