Who Can Donate Blood?
Volunteer blood donors over 18 must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
For the safety of our young donors, donors age 16-17 years of age, must meet the following height / weight requirements.
Young Donor Total Blood Volume (TBV) Scale
| Estimated 3.5 L TBV for Males and Females, 16 through 18 years old | |||
| Male Donors | |||
| Height (ft., in.) |
4'10" | 4'11" | Greater than or equal to (≥) 5'0" |
| Minimum Weight (lb.) |
118 | 114 | Greater than or equal to (≥) 110 |
| Female Donors | |||||||||
| Height (ft., in.) | 4'10" | 4'11" | 5'0" | 5'1" | 5'2" | 5'3" | 5'4" | 5'5" | ≥ 5'6" |
| Minimum Weight (lb.) | 146 | 142 | 138 | 133 | 129 | 124 | 120 | 115 | ≥ 110 |
Donors ages 16-17 may donate with parent/guardian consent if they meet the height/weight requirements.
Some people may be temporarily or permanently deferred from donating blood. Some reasons for permanent or temporary deferrals are listed below.
Photo ID is required to donate blood.
Indefinite/permanent deferrals
- Anyone with a positive test for HIV (AIDS virus) or one of its symptoms
- Anyone who has had leukemia or lymphoma
- Anyone who has had melanoma cancer
- Anyone who has taken Tegison for psoriasis
- Anyone who has had Babesiosis
- Anyone who has had Chagas disease
Temporary deferrals
- Anyone who has traveled to a malaria endemic area in the last three months (malaria endemic areas)
- Anyone who has immigrated from a malarial-endemic country within the last three years or has had malaria
- Anyone who has had a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery within the last 12 months or has not fully recovered from the surgery or are still taking cardiovascular medication(s)
- Anyone who has had or been treated for syphilis or gonorrhea within the last three months
- Anyone who has received certain vaccinations (not all vaccinations are cause for deferral)
- Anyone who had a tattoo performed in the last three months at a state-licensed facility using sterile equipment, and it is completely healed, including no scabbing
- Anyone who has had a piercing in the last three months. (Ear piercings must be performed with a sterile piercing gun)
- Anyone who has ever used needles to inject drugs, steroids or any substance not prescribed by a doctor in the last three months
- Anyone who has ever engaged in sex for money or drugs within the last three months
- Anyone who has taken oral or medication(s) to prevent an HIV infection within the last three months
- Anyone who has taken injectable medication(s) to prevent an HIV infection within the last two years
- Anyone who has had a new sexual partner or multiple sexual partners and anal sex within the last three months
- Anyone who has had radiation, surgical removal of cancer or chemotherapy within the last 12 months
- Anyone who has received blood, plasma or other blood components within the last three months
- Anyone who has lived with or had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis B or C within the last three months
- Women who are pregnant, given birth or had a miscarriage/termination within the last six weeks
- Anyone who has had epileptic seizures with the last two months
- Anyone who has had rabies vaccination after exposure within the past 12 months
- Anyone who has been in juvenile detention, lockup, jail or prison for more than 72 consecutive hours in the past 12 months