• Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough (bringing up phlegm)
• Wait if you do not feel well on the day of donation.
• Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection.    
• COVID-specific
  • You must be fully recovered from COVID-19 and symptom-free for at least 10 days before donating blood.
  • If you have had a positive diagnostic test in the past 10 days for COVID-19 but didn’t have symptoms, you will need to wait 10 days after the COVID-19 test.
  • Waiting for the results of a pending COVID-19 diagnostic test? See below for eligibility
    • If the test comes back negative and you are symptom-free you will be eligible to donate blood.
    • If the test comes back positive, you must wait 10 days from the date of the positive test or 10 days from complete resolution of your symptoms (if any), whichever is longer.
    • If it has been more than 10 days since the test and you are still waiting for the results, as long as you have had no symptoms for 10 days, you are eligible to donate blood.
  • If you are quarantined for any reason, you are not eligible to donate during the quarantine time period. If you are past the quarantine time and have been symptom-free for 10 days, you are eligible to donate blood.

You must weigh at least 110 lbs to be eligible for blood donation for your own safety. Students who donate at high school drives and donors 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').

Blood volume is determined by body weight and height. Individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood given with whole blood donation. There is no upper weight limit as long as your weight is not higher than the weight limit of the donor bed/lounge you are using. You can discuss any upper weight limitations of beds and lounges with your local health historian.

Unable to Give Blood?
Consider volunteering or hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross. You can also help people facing emergencies by making a financial donation to support the Red Cross’s greatest needs. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills.

Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever, and have no problems breathing through your mouth.

• Wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood (standard) donations.
  
• Wait at least 7 days between platelet (pheresis) donations.
• Wait at least 16 weeks between Power Red (automated) donations.    

You can be exposed to malaria through travel and travel in some areas can sometimes defer donors. If you have traveled outside of the United States and Canada, your travel destinations will be reviewed at the time of donation.

Come prepared to your donation process with your travel details when you donate. You can download the travel form and bring it with you to help in the assessment of your travel. You can call 866-236-3276 to speak with an eligibility specialist about your travel.

If, in the past 3 years, you have been outside the United States or Canada:

• What countries did you visit?
• Where did you travel while in this country?
• Did you leave the city or resort at any time? If yes, where did you go?
• What mode of transportation did you use?
• How long did you stay?
• What date did you return to the U.S.?

Malaria is transmitted by mosquito bite in certain countries and may be transmitted to patients through blood transfusion. As such the FDA requires the Red Cross and other blood collection organizations to ask individuals to disclose during the donation process if they have traveled to or lived in malaria-countries or if they have had malaria.

The FDA does not currently require blood collectors to test blood donations for malaria. However, in March 2024 the FDA approved the first test of its kind with the ability to screen blood donations for malaria. It’s important to know that the Red Cross is committed to ensuring the safety of the blood supply and is currently working with our industry partners and the FDA to evaluate current eligibility guidance regarding malaria and the newly approved test as well as other possible tests awaiting approval.

If you have traveled or lived in a malaria-risk country, a waiting period is required before you can donate blood

• Wait 3 years after completing treatment for malaria.
• Wait 3 months after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found.
• Wait 3 years after living more than 5 years in a country or countries where malaria is found. An additional waiting period of 3 years is required if you have traveled to an area where malaria is found if you have not lived a consecutive 3 years in a country or countries where malaria is not found.

Unable to Give Blood?
Consider volunteering or hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross. You can also help people facing emergencies by making a financial donation to support the Red Cross’s greatest needs. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills.

If you have been diagnosed with Zika virus infection, wait more than 120 days after your symptoms resolve to donate.

Unable to Give Blood?
Consider volunteering or hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross. You can also help people facing emergencies by making a financial donation to support the Red Cross’s greatest needs. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills.

If you have been diagnosed with Zika virus infection, wait more than 120 days after your symptoms resolve to donate.

Unable to Give Blood?
Consider volunteering or hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross. You can also help people facing emergencies by making a financial donation to support the Red Cross’s greatest needs. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills.