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Our donor health representatives can answer any questions you may have about medications or health conditions that might affect your ability to donate blood. Please contact our Donor Care and Response Center at CanIDonate@usa.redcross.org or call 1.800.737.0902

• Allergies - Can donate with symptoms if feeling well.
  
• Allergy - Shots, no deferral.
  
• Antibiotics - If taken for infections, may donate after last dose if the donor is feeling well and has no symptoms of infection.
  
• Aspirin - No deferral, unless donating apheresis platelets.
  
• Asthma - Acceptable if no difficulty breathing and no limitations on normal daily activities
  
• Birth Control Pills - No deferral
  
• Blood Transfusion 12-month deferral – if they received only an autologous transfusion may donate without a 12-month wait.
  
• Cancer - Usually a 5 year deferral after the donor has completed all treatment of the cancer. Check with Red Cross staff.
  
• Dental Work - Teeth cleaning, scaling, and fillings are acceptable if no infection is present and you’re not on antibiotics. Wait more than 3 days following oral surgery.
  
• Diabetes - If you have used bovine (beef) insulin anytime between 1980 and 1996, indefinite deferral. Call Red Cross staff if you aren’t sure if the type of insulin used was derived from cows.
  
• Ear/Body Piercing - Procedure is acceptable if done with sterile needles and supplies. Others need to be evaluated by collections staff or Red Cross staff.
  
• Hepatitis - Acceptable if individual had hepatitis A or hepatitis of unknown type before age 11 and has not tested positive for hepatitis. Indefinite deferral at any age if hepatitis was due to a virus (except hepatitis A), or if hepatitis of unknown type contracted on or after age 11. Call the Red Cross Staff if you have a history of hepatitis .
  
• Hepatitis (exposure) - 12 month deferral after contact with something that might be contaminated with blood (needle stick, sharing toothbrush or razors) from someone with hepatitis. 12-month deferral after living with or having sex with someone sick with hepatitis (e.g. hepatitis A or C) (symptoms such as jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, weight loss) or someone with acute or chronic hepatitis B (whether they have symptoms or not).
  
• Hepatitis A Vaccine - Acceptable same day if feeling well and not given for hepatitis exposure.
  
• Hepatitis B Vaccine - There is a seven (7) day deferral after receiving each dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG) 12-month deferral when given for hepatitis B exposure.
  
• Heart Disease Medicine - taken for heart conditions is usually not a deferral. Donors are usually acceptable if it has been 6 months or more since the diagnosis/event, and they have been medically evaluated and treated, and in the past 6 months they have had no symptoms and no limitations or restrictions in normal daily activities. A history of heart disease should be referred to the Red Cross staff.
  
• High Blood Pressure - Blood pressure will be evaluated by the collection staff at the time of donation. (Medication does NOT usually preclude donating.)
  
• Malaria - Acceptable to donate after completely recovered for three (3) years.
  
• Medications - Most medications are acceptable – check with the Red Cross staff. Must know name of medications and why taking them.
  
• Mononucleosis - Can donate after fully recovered. If yellow jaundice or hepatitis at time of mononucleosis, indefinite deferral.
  
• Pregnancy - Deferral until six (6) weeks after normal delivery or cesarean delivery. If mother is nursing, she is still eligible six (6) weeks after delivery. A shot of Rho-Gam is not a deferral.
  
• Sore Throat - Minor sore throats are acceptable. Moderate to severe sore throats will cause deferral until the donor feels better.
  
• Street Drugs - Any history of taking illegal drugs by needle is an indefinite deferral.
  
• Surgery - If the donor feels well and healthy and the incision does not appear to be infected the donor may be accepted.
  
• Transplants - Must be evaluated by Red Cross staff.
  
• Tattoo - 12-month deferral unless applied with sterile, single-use needles and ink in a state that regulates or licenses tattoo facilities.
  
• Travel Outside USA with the exception of Canada -The criteria have changed especially for European and United Kingdom travel. Donors previously deferred may have the ability to donate again. Please call the Red Cross staff at 1-800-GIVE LIFE. If the donor is already on the deferral list they must be removed before they will be able to donate. This can NOT be done at the blood drive and can only be done by the Red Cross staff. Removal from the deferral list may take up to 4-6 weeks to complete.
  
• Vaccination - No wait if feeling well after vaccine or flu (flu mist [nasal] is also acceptable), tetanus, meningitis, pneumonia, anthrax, Lyme disease, or injectable typhoid.
  Two (2) week deferral for oral polio, oral typhoid, measles, mumps, or yellow fever vaccines.
  Four (4) week deferral for German measles (rubella) shots. Chicken pox vaccine (four weeks after last vaccination).
  
• Hepatitis Vaccine - Refer to the text above for hepatitis vaccination information.
  
• Smallpox Vaccine – defer for 56 days after receiving the vaccine or have symptoms after close contact with someone receiving the vaccine. Refer to Red Cross staff.