Clear your doubts now...

Can you donate blood ?

Giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need longterm treatments. Donating blood is a selfless act that can save lives and make a positive impact on your community. However, not everyone is eligible to donate blood. To ensure the safety of both donors and recipients, specific eligibility criteria must be met.

Remember, even if you cannot donate blood, there are other ways you can support blood donation efforts, such as encouraging eligible friends and family members to donate or volunteering at blood drives and donation centers.

hero banner

Who can give blood

Find out if you are able give blood for the first time.

To donate blood you will need to :

• Be generally fit and well

• Be aged between 17 and 65

• Weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)

• Have suitable veins (we will check these before you donate)

• Meet all donor eligibility criteria (we will check this before you donate)

Red Stream

Who can't donate blood

You can't donate blood if you:

• Are a hepatitis B carrier

• Are a hepatitis C carrier

• Have some heart conditions

• Have tested positive for HIV

• Have had an organ transplant

• Have had most types of cancer

• Have received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products after 1 January 1980

• Have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs

• There are other medical conditions that may mean you can't donate...

hero banner

Who might have to wait to donate blood !

There are some health, travel and lifestyle reasons that may stop you from being able to donate blood on a temporary basis.
If you are not sure you can donate, please contact us to discuss your situation.

Sexual activity that means you may have to wait

You may have to wait up to three months before you can donate if:
- • You have had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months
- • You finished taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in the last threemonths
In the last three months you have had sexual contact with a partner who is:
- • HIV positive
- • HTLV positive
- • A hepatitis B carrier
- • A hepatitis C carrier
- • Syphilis positive
- • Has received money or drugs for sex
- • Has injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents
Other reasons why you might need to wait

You will need to wait before you can donate if you:
- • Feel ill
- • Are pregnant or had a baby in the last 6 months
- • Have recently got a tattoo or piercing
- • Are undergoing assessment or investigations for a medical condition. For example, heart condition

Red Stream

Female donors under 20 years

Check how much blood you have

If you are a woman under 20 and you weigh under 10st 3lb (65kg) or are under 5' 6" (168cm) tall you will need to check you have enough blood to donate safely.

hero banner

Can you donate blood ?

Who can give blood

To donate blood you will need to :

Who can't donate blood

You can't donate blood if you:

Who might have to wait to donate blood !

Sexual activity that means you may have to wait

You may have to wait up to three months before you can donate if:

In the last three months you have had sexual contact with a partner who is:

Other reasons why you might need to wait

You will need to wait before you can donate if you:

Female donors under 20 years

How often can I give blood?

Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women can give blood every 16 weeks. This is because men generally have higher iron levels than women.