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Can I Donate?
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You will probably meet the medical requirements to donate blood if you are:
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In good health
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At least 16 years old (16-year-olds may donate with parental permission. There is no upper age limit.)
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Weigh at least 110 pounds
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What are some reasons for deferral?
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Anemia (low hematocrit)
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Blood Pressure (high or low)
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Body Piercing (see below)
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Chagas' Disease
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Cold or Flu
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Hepatitis
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HIV/AIDS
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Infection
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International Travel (see below)
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Organ/Tissue Transplants
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Pregnancy
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Sexually Transmitted Disease
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I'm taking medications. Can I still donate blood?
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Many medications are acceptable. Consult your physician or contact us
if you have questions about your eligibility to donate.
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What if I have a tattoo or body piercing?
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U.S. health advisers voted to continue a policy that requires people who have been tattooed to put off donating
blood for a year after the procedure, but said those who have received acupuncture can safely give blood. If you have a body
piercing was done in a licensed facility in the US or Canada, then you should be OK to donate.
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Will travel abroad make me ineligible to donate blood?
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Travel to certain countries may prevent you from donating blood. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict policies in
place to prevent the theoretical risk of spreading mad cow disease in the blood supply. Please contact us if you
have questions about travel-related deferrals.
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Will recent vaccinations make me ineligible to donate blood?
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Recent vaccines (live vaccines) may prevent you from donating blood. You may be deferred for up to four weeks if you have recently received measles,
mumps, or rubella vaccinations. The shingles vaccine is a 4 week deferral and the hepatitis B vaccine is a 2 week deferral. There is no
deferral for the flu vaccine, the HPV vaccine, and most other vaccines.
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Did You Know?
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You probably know someone who has needed a blood transfusion. For all the miracles of modern medicine, there is
still no substitute for this gift of life. Our neighbors count on FBS for more than 750 pints a day, and we’re
counting on you. Please help us keep our promise of safe, and compassionate health care.
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Only about 5% of those who can give blood ever do.
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By age 70, odds are 9 to 1 that you’ll have needed a transfusion.
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For answers to your frequently-asked questions, visit our Education Page.
We're Donors Too!
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From left to right: Peni Miller, Administrative Support Services, 7 Gallon Donor; Diane Nangle, HR Specialist,
2 Gallon Donor; Timothy Malone, Donor Systems North, 4 Gallon Donor; Calvin Levy, Computer Systems Engineer, 13
Gallon Donor; Cathy Manzano Jones, Technical Specialist, 1 Gallon Donor; Dan Higley, Information Systems Engineer,
47 Gallon Donor; Brandi Drpaiza, Technical Assistant, 1 Gallon Donor.
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