red cross weight limits for giving blood

The MSM (men who have sex with men) policy states that any man who has had sex with a man (or a woman who has sex with a man who has had sex with a man) cannot donate blood until three months after their last MSM encounter. If you don’t feel well, have a fever or are having trouble breathing through your mouth, wait to donate until those symptoms go away. Click here to see a list of ones that will. Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation.Īlmost all medications won’t disqualify you from donating. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. Wait three months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were single-use equipment. Wait three months if a piercing was performed using a reusable gun or any reusable instrument. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.įor piercings, donation right away is acceptable as long as the instruments used were single-use equipment and disposable (which means both the gun and the earring cassette were disposable). Cosmetic tattoos (including microblading of eyebrows only) applied in a licensed establishment in a regulated state using sterile needles and ink that is not reused is acceptable. Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation.Ī tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming. Before you donate a nurse will go over any traveling you’ve done outside of the US or Canada to ensure that there are no issues.įor tattoos, you must wait three months if the tattoo was applied in a state that does NOT regulate tattoo facilities. If you’ve traveled to a country where malaria is found in the past 12 months, you may not be eligible to donate.

There is no maximum age or weight limit for donation.ĭonors 18 years of age or younger must also meet additional height and weight requirements for whole blood donation (applies to girls shorter than 5'6' and boys shorter than 5'). You must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Red cross weight limits for giving blood