Blood Donor Basics

Am I Eligible?

Healthy individuals 17 years or older and weighing at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood. 16 year olds may donate as long as they weigh at least 130 pounds and have signed parental consent. Most people realize soon after their first donation experience that donating blood is easy and painless. Moreover, donating blood is completely safe. Eligible donors are encouraged to visit any one of TBC’s donor center locations or find a mobile blood drive!

Specific eligibility criteria is based on FDA regulations, and changes periodically. Especially if you haven’t donated in a while, you should read through the resources below on eligibility criteria, and read through our FAQs. When you come in to donate, our highly-trained staff will conduct a detailed interview and mini-physical (blood pressure, pulse, etc) to determine if you are eligible. You should also have proper identification that is not expired.

Useful Documents

First Time Blood Donor FAQs & Tips

  • Prepare for your donation by having a good meal before you donate, including plenty of fluids.
  • Read the Blood Donor Educational Material and complete the FastLane medical and health history questionnaire. (Fastlane must be done the DAY OF your donation to be valid)
  • A staff member will conduct a medical history interview and a brief health screening including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and blood iron level.
  • You will relax on a donor bed while a unit (about one pint) is collected by specially trained staff. Most people feel just a pinch when the needle is first inserted and nothing during the rest of the donation. (The actual donation process takes less than ten minutes!)
  • Enjoy some cookies and juice!
  • Ask yourself if you are feeling well and free from fever or flu-like symptoms, infection, and you do not have any open wounds.
  • Eat a good meal that includes plenty of (non-caffinated) fluids, such as water
  • Before arriving to the donation site, you can fill out your FastLane questionnaire to save time at your appointment. (Fastlane must be filled out the SAME calendar day as your donation in order to be valid)
    • If you don’t have access to the internet or if you are having trouble, you can also use one of our devices to complete FastLane at the donation site
  • Make sure you have a valid, non-expired ID to present to staff when you arrive

The needle insertion feels like a little pinch—other than that, most donors feel no discomfort.

The entire whole blood donation process, from registration to post-donation refreshments, takes less than an hour. The actual blood draw takes 5 to 10 minutes.

One unit is equivalent to one pint. Our staff will also draw a few small tubes of blood for lab testing.

Most people feel fine after giving blood. Your body makes new blood constantly, and the fluid you give will be replaced within hours. You should avoid alcohol before and after donating, and smokers should refrain from smoking for 30 minutes after giving.

All donated blood is tested for blood type, hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and other transmissible diseases. Blood is then separated into various components (red cells, platelets, and plasma) and shipped to one of our area hospitals.

No. All TBC blood donors are volunteers. In fact, all blood collected for transfusion in the United States must be from volunteer donors.

All of our equipment is brand new, state-of-the-art, disposable and used only one time. The only thing you can get from donating blood is the good feeling knowing you’ve helped others. The Blood Center facilities, mobile blood drives, and Bloodmobiles follow appropriate infection control standards put forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which include:

  • Sanitation of donor waiting rooms and donation chairs.
  • Hospital grade disinfectant wipes and cleaning formulas
  • Frequently changed single use medical gloves

General Blood Donor FAQs

All types, including common ones like O+ (positive) and A+ (positive), are needed by patients all the time. The only wrong type is the type we do not have. Less than 5% of the eligible population actually donates blood, yet the demand for blood and blood components is constant. The needs of patients can only be met by people like you.

You can donate blood as long as you are at least 16 years old (With parent’s permission). And you are never too old as long as you are healthy. There is absolutely no upper age limit on donating blood. 

Low iron levels are the most common reason for a temporary deferral. Having low iron does not necessarily mean that you are anemic or unable to donate blood. Most donors only need a simple change in their diet to increase iron levels. Note: People who menstruate have increased daily iron needs due to losing blood each month during the menstrual cycle.

  • Eggs, lean beef and pork, turkey and chicken, liver
  • Fish, (tuna, salmon) and shellfish (clams, oysters, shrimp)
  • Vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, peas, kale, and baked potatoes
  • Beans and lentils (kidney and Lima beans)
  • Nuts (almonds) and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sesame)
  • Enriched grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, and cream of wheat.
  • Dried fruits (prunes, dates, figs, apricots, and raisins)

If desired, you may talk to your doctor about iron supplements or other options.

(This information is provided solely as a resource and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.)

Foods That May Help: 

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron and should be consumed at the same time as high-iron foods. 

  • Oranges/orange juice, tangerines, and grapefruit
  • Strawberries, papayas, kiwi fruit, mango, and cantaloupe
  • Green and red peppers
  • Vitamin C supplements

Foods That May Hinder:

Some foods limit your absorption of iron. You should avoid eating these foods at the same time as iron-rich foods, or eat them at least two hours before or after the iron-rich meal.

  • Coffee, cocoa, and other caffeinated drinks
  • Black and green tea
  • Soy products
  • Alcoholic beverages

BLOOD MYTHS: I Heard I Cannot Donate Because…

…I have diabetes.
As long as your diabetes is under control and stable (even with insulin use), you may be eligible if you meet all other criteria!

…I have new ear or body piercings.
No wait to donate as long as your piercing was performed using sterile single-use equipment. 3 months deferral if self-applied, or not performed using sterile single-use equipment.

…I have a heart condition.
As long as you are not on any heart medication (other than aspirin) and there is no underlying damage, you may be eligible if you meet all other criteria.

…I am taking medications for mitral valve prolapse.
You you may be eligible, as long as your doctor has not put any restrictions on your activity.

…I take medication for high blood pressure.
As long as your blood pressure is controlled and stable, you may be eligible if you meet all other criteria.

…I had a stroke.
As long as it has been a year since your stroke, are not on any medications for it and you have no activity restrictions, you you may be eligible to donate if you meet all other donor criteria.

…I just got a tattoo, or I have multiple tattoos.
As long as your tattoo was done at a licensed shop in the U.S.*, you can donate once the site has healed! Any others is a 3 month wait from the date of the tattoo. The number of tattoos your have does not matter.

*Exceptions: District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming- tattoos applied at tattoo shops in these states are a 3 month wait

…..I was previously deferred from donating because I lived in Europe or Germany in the 1980’s.
The FDA recently made changes to this policy and these deferrals no longer apply as of August 2022!

…I am on daily medications.
Common daily medications such as antidepressants or insulin do not disqualify you from giving blood. Click here to view our current list of medication deferrals.

…I have had cancer.
You can donate blood after having certain soft tissue malignancies (kidney, breast, colon, etc) once it has been 1 year since your last treatment and you are cancer-free. You cannot donate, however, if you have a history of any blood or bone marrow malignancy (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma, etc.).

For questions about your specific eligibility based on your medical history, please contact our Medical Director’s office or Medical Legal Department by calling (800) 86-BLOOD [Ext. 1545] during regular business hours [Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM, may be closed on certain holidays] Or email: info@TheBloodCenter.org –Email inquiries are answered during business hours.