Donating blood is a simple task with a huge reward. When people need blood, they need it right away. You can help make sure they always get the lifesaving blood they need by donating blood.

Blood-Donation Facts

Giving blood takes only a short time: just 7-10 minutes to draw your blood, plus approximately 40 minutes for registration, pre-donation health screening, and snack/rest period afterward.

Every pint of donated blood has the potential to help several people.

You CANNOT get AIDS or any other infectious disease from the act of donating blood. Equipment used to collect blood comes prepackaged and sterile; it is used just once and then properly disposed.

Donor Requirements

You may be eligible to give blood every 56 days if you are a healthy person age 17 or older (or 16 with parent's/guardian's consent), weighing 110 pounds or more.

You may need to wait to donate blood if you have:

• Allergies – You may donate if symptoms are under control.
• Colds & Flu – Wait until you have no fever and you feel well.
• Dental Work – Wait 2 to 6 weeks after major procedures; OK after fillings and cleanings if symptom-free.
• Infectious Diseases – Check with our Donor Services staff if exposed to any contagious disease (measles, chicken pox, mumps, mononucleosis, whooping cough) in the past 4-6 weeks.
• Pregnancy – Wait 6 weeks after delivery or interrupted pregnancy.
• Ear/Body Piercing – You may donate if piercing was done with a disposable device (single-use sterile process) or in a doctor’s office; otherwise, wait 12 months.
• Tattoos – Wait 12 months if you received artwork at a non-licensed facility. Otherwise, bring record of tattoo when donating.
• Syphilis or gonorrhea – Wait 12 months.
• Skin Infections – Wait until wounds or burns are healed and infection-free.
• Medications – Many are acceptable but you must know the exact name.
• Vaccinations – Flu / can donate; Other vaccinations / check with Donor Services staff.
• Past Deferrals – Please try again because changes in donor criteria may make you eligible now.

You may not donate at all if:

• You have AIDS, a positive HIV test, some blood diseases, or epilepsy
• You have chronic lung, liver, or heart disease
• You have had hepatitis
• You have spent a total of 3 months in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.
• You have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.