Can I donate?


Your questions answered:

What if I have an infection or a cold?
If you have an active infection such as a cold or the flu you should not be donating. Some symptoms include fever or inflammation.

I have heart disease, can I donate?
In general, you are an acceptable donor as long as you have been medically evaluated and treated, have no current (within the last 6 months) heart related symptoms such as chest pain and have no limitations or restrictions on your normal daily activities.

• Wait at least 6 months following an episode of angina.
• Wait at least 6 months following a heart attack.
• Wait at least 6 months after bypass surgery or angioplasty.

If you have a pacemaker, you may donate as long as your pulse is between 50 and 100 beats per minute with no more than a small number of irregular beats, and you meet the other heart disease criteria. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.

Other health concerns:

Cancer
Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s Disease, you are not eligible to donate. Other types of cancer are acceptable if the cancer has been treated successfully and it has been at least 5 years since treatment was completed and there has been no cancer recurrence in this time. Some low-risk cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin do not require a 5 year waiting period.

Precancerous conditions of the uterine cervix do not disqualify you from donation if the abnormality has been treated successfully. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.

Arthritis
You are eligible to give blood if you are feeling well and not on immuno-suppressant medication. Arava, Gold Therapy and Methotrexate are acceptable.

High or Low Blood Pressure
You are an acceptable donor as long as your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of donation. Medications for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating.

If you have low blood pressure you are an acceptable donor as long as you feel well when you come to donate. If your blood pressure normally runs low, it may be more difficult for your body to adjust to the volume loss following donation, especially if you are dehydrated. Drinking extra water before and after donation is important.

What if I’m on medication?
Most medications are okay. It is the illness for which the medication is given that could be a problem. Antibiotics are acceptable when the full course of the medication is complete and you are symptom free. Women taking oral contraceptives are also acceptable donors.

Specific drugs have waiting periods following their last dose before they can donate blood. These include:
Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis or Sotret (isoretinoin), Proscar (finasteride), and Propecia (finasteride) - wait 1 month from the last dose.

• Avodart (dutasteride) - wait 6 months from the last dose.
• Aspirin, no waiting period for donating blood. However you must wait 48 hours after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis.
• Clopidogrel - wait 7 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.
• Coumadin (warfarin), heparin or other prescription blood thinners- you should not donate since your blood will not clot normally. If your doctor discontinues your treatment with blood thinners, wait 7 days before returning to donate.
• Hepatitis B Immune Globulin – given for exposure to hepatitis, wait 12 months after exposure to hepatitis.
• Human pituitary-derived growth hormone at any time - you are not eligible to donate blood.
• Plavix - wait 7 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.
• Soriatane (acitretin) - wait 3 years.
• Tegison (etretinate) at any time - you are not eligible to donate blood.
• Ticlid - wait 7 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.
• Ticlopidine - wait 7 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.

I’ve been to the dentist recently, can I donate?
You can donate after dental procedures as long as there is no infection present. Wait to give blood until finishing antibiotics for a dental infection. Wait for 3 days after having oral surgery.

Do immunizations affect donation?
If you were vaccinated for influenza, tetanus or meningitis, providing you are symptom-free and fever-free you can donate blood. Other immunizations:

• German Measles (Rubella), MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and Chicken Pox wait 4 weeks after immunization.
• Red Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Polio (by mouth), and Yellow Fever vaccine wait 2 weeks after immunizations.
• Hepatitis B (as long as you are not given the immunization for exposure to hepatitis B) wait 7 days after immunization.
• Smallpox vaccination and did not develop complications
  Wait 8 weeks (56 days) from the date of having a smallpox vaccination as long as you have had no complications. Complications may include skin reactions beyond the vaccination site or general illness related to the vaccination.
• Smallpox vaccination and developed complications
  Wait 14 days after all vaccine complications have resolved or 8 weeks (56 days) from the date of having had the smallpox vaccination whichever is the longer period of time. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation. Complications may include skin reactions beyond the vaccination site or general illness related to the vaccination.
• Smallpox vaccination – close contact with someone who has had the smallpox vaccine in the last eight weeks and you did not develop any skin lesions or other symptoms.
  Eligible to donate.
• Smallpox vaccination – close contact with someone who has had the vaccine in the last eight weeks and you have since a developed skin lesions or symptoms. Wait 8 weeks (56 days) from the date of the first skin lesion or sore. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation. Complications may include skin reactions or general illness related to the exposure.

I had surgery recently
You’re usually an acceptable donor after your stitches or staples are removed, the wound has healed and you’ve returned to normal activities. One exception to this rule is if you received a blood transfusion for the surgery.

I had my ears or body pierced, received a tattoo or had electrolysis work done—can I donate?
For piercing or electrolysis, you are considered an acceptable donor as long as the instruments used were sterile, one time use only.

• Wait 12 months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were sterile and free of blood contamination.

Wait 12 months after receiving a tattoo.

Does pregnancy affect donation?
Persons who are pregnant are not eligible to donate. Wait 6 weeks after giving birth.

What if I’ve traveled or lived outside of the U.S.?
Wait 12 months after travel in an area where malaria is found. Wait 3 years after living in a country where malaria is found. If you spend a long time in areas with “mad cow disease” you are ineligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about variant Creutzfeld Jacob Disease (vCJD).

Persons who were born in or who lived in certain countries in Western Africa, or who have had close contact with persons who were born in or who lived in certain West African countries are not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about HIV Group O.
Relay any information about international travel or living to the health historian at the time of donation.

(From the American Red Cross’ www.givelife.org)