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Certain health conditions may prevent you from
donating blood. These are only some of our eligibility guidelines.
Please call our Donor Center at (334) 260-3986 for any other
questions you may have regarding blood donation.
Antibiotics
Wait 2 days after taking antibiotics for an
infection. Persons taking antibiotics to prevent an infection may
donate. Those with a fever above 99ºF may not donate until the
fever is passed.
High Blood Pressure
As long as the blood pressure is below 180 systolic
(first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time
of donation, a person may donate. Medications for high blood
pressure do not disqualify someone from donating.
High Cholesterol
Persons with high cholesterol may donate. Those on
medications to lower cholesterol level may donate.
Cold, Flu, Sore Throat
Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough.
Wait if you feel unwell on the day of the donation.
Diabetes
Two weeks after starting or changing the dosage of insulin a
person may donate. Those who since 1980, received an injection of
bovine insulin are not eligible to donate.
Heart Disease
Persons with heart disease may donate as long as they have no
restrictions on their physical activities, take no medications for
heart disease other than aspirin, and have no heart-related symptoms
such as chest pain. Wait at least 6 months following a heart
attack. Persons with pacemakers may donate as long as their pulse
is between 50 and 100 per minute with a small number of irregular
beats.
Heart Murmur, Heart Valve Disorder
Persons with a heart murmur may donate as long as they have no
symptoms on the day of the donation, no restrictions on their
physical activity, and are not taking any medications for heart
disease other than antibiotics to prevent infections.
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count
Each donor's hemoglobin is measured at the blood collection site
before donation is allowed. The level required for blood donation is
set by the Food and Drug Administration for all blood collections in
the United States. It is common for donors, especially women, to
have hemoglobin levels too low to donate. This is sometimes due to
iron deficiency, but may also be normal for the person. If you are
disqualified as a donor because of a low blood count, you may return
and try again at any time. Those with a hemoglobin at or above 12.5
g/dL may donate. Those with a hematocrit at or above 38% may donate.
Medications
In almost all cases, medications do not disqualify a person as a
blood donor. The person's eligibility is based on the reason that
the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under
control and the person is healthy, blood donation is usually
permitted. There are just a few selected drugs that are potentially
toxic if given to a patient through transfusion; persons on these
medications have waiting periods before donating:
Wait 3 years from the last dose of Soriatane (acitretin).
Wait 4 weeks after taking Accutane (isoretinoin) Proscar (finasteride),
Propecia (finasteride), methotrexate
Persons who have ever taken Tegison (etretinate) are not eligible to
donate blood.
Wait 3 months after taking Arava (leflunomide).
Wait 5 days after taking coumadin.
Wait 36 hours after taking aspirin, Plavix (clopidogrel) or Ticlid (ticlopidine)if
you are going to donate plateletpheresis.
Piercing (ears, body), Accupuncture
Persons may donate as long as the piercing instruments were
sterile. Wait 12 months if there is any question whether or not the
piercing instruments were sterile and free of blood contamination.
Pregnancy
Persons who are pregnant are not eligible to donate. Wait 6
weeks after delivering, miscarrying, or terminating a pregnancy.
Mothers who are nursing may donate.
Tattoo
Wait 12 months after a tattoo.
Travel Outside of U.S.
Wait 12 months after travel into areas with a risk of malaria.
Wait 3 years after immigrating from a country with malaria.
Persons who have spent long periods of time in countries where mad
cow disease is found are not eligible to donate. You may not donate
if you have stayed more than 3 months total in countries on list 1,
or more than 6 months total in countries on list 1 or 2, since 1980.
- List 1: England, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Channel
Islands, Northern Ireland, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar
- List 2: All of the countries in Europe, Oman
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