Eligibility Requirements

You must be at least 16 years old to donate blood (17 in North Carolina). All 16-years-olds must provide a signed parental/guardian consent form to donate. Some schools may require a signed consent form for 17-year-olds. Please check with your school for details.

You must weigh at least 110 pounds to donate whole blood. For a double red cell donation, men must weight at least 130 pounds and be 5’1″ or taller; women must weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5’5″ or taller.

Yes, as long as you feel well and your blood pressure at the time of donation is at least 90 systolic (first number) and 50 diastolic (second number).

Yes, as long as you feel well and your blood pressure at the time of donation is below 180 systolic (first number) and 100 diastolic (second number). Taking medication to control high blood pressure does not prevent you from donating blood.

OneBlood is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As such, each donor must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to donate blood. If a donor does not meet one or more of the eligibility requirements, they would be deferred from donating that day.

It depends on the reason you were deferred. Some deferrals are temporary, and others are permanent. For example, if a donor’s iron count is too low, they would be temporarily deferred until they are able to get their iron levels into the necessary range by eating iron-rich foods. Visit our Am I Eligible page for more information

If you present to donate and have a low iron count, you will not be eligible to donate blood. We understand that rescheduling can be frustrating, but your health and safety is a top priority. Low iron is one of the most common reasons for deferral from donating blood.

When your iron is low, donating blood will cause your levels to drop even further, leaving you feeling tired and faint. It also affects your ability to generate new red blood cells and can cause a longer recovery time. Eating certain types of red meat, fortified cereal, and leafy green vegetables may help increase your iron count. Find out more about low iron and blood donations here.

Yes, as long as you have no limitations on daily activities and are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation. Medications for asthma does not disqualify you from donating.

Donors taking oral contraceptives and those using other forms of birth control are eligible to donate.

Diabetics whose illness is well controlled on insulin or oral medications are eligible to donate.

Donors with diabetes who take any kind of insulin are eligible to donate as long as their diabetes is well controlled

Most localized skin cancers are not a reason to stop you from donating blood. Because many different types of cancer exist, we will ask you a few questions regarding your diagnosis, and in some cases the blood center medical director may make the final determination on the deferral. Most often, people who are free of relapse a year after completion of treatment are able to donate blood.

People who received a tattoo at a state-licensed and regulated facility are now eligible to donate blood once the area has healed. People who received a tattoo at a non-regulated facility must wait 3 months before they can donate blood.

Pregnant women are not eligible to donate blood, but they become eligible 6 weeks after giving birth. Women who are nursing are encouraged to drink plenty of water both before and after donating blood.

Donors must feel well at the time of the blood donation, so a cold, flu, or allergies may temporarily prevent someone from donating blood. Donors must wait at least 24 hours after many minor surgeries, including dental work, before donating. Donors should rely on our screening process to determine surgery or illness deferrals. In some cases, the blood center medical director may make this determination.

Yes, you can donate any time after receiving a flu vaccine.

Most medications do not disqualify you from donating blood; however, the condition you are being treated for or medication you are taking may result in you being deferred from donating blood. See below for a general list of medications that could impact your ability to donate blood.

The use of cannabis does not disqualify an individual from blood donation, but potential donors cannot give if their use of cannabis impairs their memory or comprehension.

On August 21, 2023, OneBlood implemented the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new individual donor assessment guidance for all blood donors.

If you were once deferred from donating blood for geographic risk factors related to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly known as “Mad Cow” disease, we are excited to share that you are now ELIGIBLE to be a blood donor.

Donors must meet the same eligibility requirements as a whole blood donor. In addition, because aspirin affects the coagulation function of platelets, automated donors are asked not to take aspirin or aspirin-like products (Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen) 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment.

Please feel free to discuss your eligibility for this program with one of our phlebotomists at any time before, during or after your whole blood donation.

Yes. The body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood. Your whole blood donation is approximately 1 pint.