The reason for antibiotic use must be evaluated to determine if the donor has a bacterial infection that could be transmissible by blood. Giving blood can help save lives. However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. You must wait 3 days after taking Effient (prasugrel) before donating platelets by apheresis. Valacyclovir is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to acyclovir after oral dosing. Seek urgent medical advice if you have any signs of an allergic reaction (such as hives; difficulty breathing; facial or throat swelling). Some medications affect your eligibility as a blood donor, for the following reasons: Experimental Medication or Unlicensed (Experimental) Vaccine is usually associated with a research study, and the effect on the safety of transfused blood is unknown. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Plavix (clopidogrel) and Ticlid (ticlopidine) no waiting period for donating whole blood. If you ever received a dura mater (brain covering) transplant you are not eligible to donate. But there are some rules you'll need to follow before you donate your blood after getting the jab. Discard any unused portion after 28 days. If you've had a COVID-19 vaccination, discuss your eligibility for donating blood with center staff. Acyclovir also passes into breastmilk. Can You Donate Plasma if You Are Taking Antibiotics? - DoNotPay Acceptable if you meet all eligibility criteria and donation intervals. Wait 3 years after living more than 5 years in a country or countries where malaria is found. Valacyclovir is an oral tablet that only needs to be taken twice daily, compared to five times daily for acyclovir. In general, people with well-managed or controlled diabetes can donate blood. Wait 3 months after the last dose of any oral medications taken to prevent HIV infection [also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)]- Truvada (Tenofovir), Descovy (emtricitabine), Tivicay (dolutegravir) and Isentress (raltegravir) are oral medications given for exposure to HIV. Certain medications may delay your ability to donate blood. If youve taken them in the past, you can never donate blood: The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. According to American Red Cross guidelines, people can donate blood as long as their blood pressure is between 90/50 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and 80/100 mm Hg. Wait 3 months after receiving a blood transfusion (unless it was your own "autologous" blood), non-sterile needle stick or exposure to someone else's blood. This makes it more convenient for people to take. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use valacyclovir only for the indication prescribed. If you get a nonreplicating, inactivated or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, you can donate blood without a waiting period. Age. The truth is that most people with tattoos can donate blood, as long as they do not have certain . In general, acceptable as long as you have been medically evaluated and treated, have no current (within the last 6 months) heart related symptoms such as chest pain and have no limitations or restrictions on your normal daily activities. Blood Donation Eligibility Requirements | Red Cross Blood Services Platelets are small, tiny cell fragments that form clots to stop you from bleeding. Can You Donate Blood If You Use Cannabis? - Red Cross Blood However, you must wait 2 full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. Most medications do not prevent you from donating blood. How often you can donate blood depends on a variety of factors, including the type of blood donation you want to, During a plasma transfusion, the liquid component of a donor's blood is put into another person's bloodstream to increase the blood's volume and, Receiving a blood transfusion from a donor who has been vaccinated for COVID-19 is safe. But there are a few precautions you should keep in mind. Help save the lives of people in your community by donating regularly. Cladel NM, et al. From diagnosis to treatment, our experts provide the care and support you need, when you need it. Smoking before your . You can also help peoplefacing emergencies by making a financial donationto support the Red Crosss greatest needs. Cold, Flu and Other Types of Illness If you don't feel well on the day of your donation, please call to cancel. Donors with clotting disorder from Factor V who are not on anticoagulants are eligible to donate; however, all others must be evaluated by the health historian at the collection center. If you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a virus, or unexplained jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin), you are not eligible to donate blood. We encourage you to make an appointment to donate blood at the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program to help overcome the severe blood shortage. Because plasma is part of your blood, the same rules apply if you have herpes, whether you have HSV-1 or HSV-2: Maybe. Here are some resources you can use to figure out whether you can donate blood: Wondering if you have herpes and want to know before you donate blood? These drugs are used to treat or prevent blood clots and prevent strokes. What medications disqualify you from donating blood/plasma? Please keep in mind that donor eligibility and ability to donate can change over time. Get in touch with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blood Bank at (301) 496-1048. By starting to give when you are young and donating throughout your life, you may save thousands of lives. Rarely, may cause side effects such as agitation, hallucinations, confusion, or seizures. The blood you donate will be tested to determine your blood type. Acceptable if you received an HPV Vaccine (example, Gardasil). Blood donation frequently asked questions - Mayo Clinic Double red cell donation takes about 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. With cancer, where you get treated first matters. Wearing loose clothing may help prevent a shingles rash from becoming irritated. Considervolunteeringorhosting a blood drivethrough the Red Cross. Give Plasma | HHS.gov In many cases, the answer is. For the same reason, do not donate if you are taking any "blood thinner" such as: If you are on aspirin, it is OK to donate whole blood. Anticoagulants Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, prevent blood from clotting. Dont donate until its been at least 48 hours since youve finished taking any antiviral treatment. There are plenty of other caveats to donating blood, even if a condition or lifestyle choice doesnt seem like it should have any impact on how safe or healthy your blood is. If you have traveled or lived in a malaria-risk country, a waiting period is required before you can donate blood. But to be eligible, youll need to know and be able to give the name of your COVID-19 vaccines manufacturer. Because of this risk, you can't donate blood or blood products for at least 1 month after your last dose of isotretinoin. Apheresis takes up to two hours, which is longer than it takes to donate whole blood. Donors who have undergone acupuncture treatments are acceptable. Odomzo (sonidegib) capsules, for oral use. In order to donate whole blood, youll need to: Eligibility requirements may differ if you want to donate only platelets or plasma. Acceptable if you were vaccinated with SHINGRIX (shingles vaccine) providing you are symptom-free and fever-free. General eligibility criteria. Blood donations are not tested for malaria because there is no sensitive blood test available for malaria. And, yes, you can donate blood if you are taking medication for high blood pressure. If you have traveled outside of the United States and Canada, your travel destinations will be reviewed at the time of donation. The Blood Donor Program welcomes regular and repeat healthy donors so that it has a steady blood supply for people in need. (This may vary based on your height. We can also answer many of your questions via email at giveblood@cc.nih.gov . For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you can donate platelets is Thursday. Valacyclovir is an antiviral prodrug that is rapidly converted into acyclovir in the body. Evaluation is on a case by case basis. This makes it more convenient for people to take. If you received an injection of cadaveric pituitary human growth hormone (hGH) you cannot donate. First-time male donors may be eligible to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man in more than 3 months. If you have been diagnosed with vCJD, CJD or any other TSE or have a blood relative diagnosed with genetic CJD (e.g., fCJD, GSS, or FFI) you cannot donate. Blood Donor Eligibility Criteria - Donate Blood, Platelets or Plasma We avoid using tertiary references. The length of time you must wait to donate will depend on the requirements of the plasma donation site and the type of antibiotic. When you donate blood, you only give about 1 pint. Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil) capsules, for oral use. If you have a shingles rash or a cold sore, try and keep it as clean and dry as possible. Acceptable as long as you do not have any limitations on daily activities and are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation and you otherwise feel well. Acceptable if you have a heart murmur as long as you have been medically evaluated and treated and have not had symptoms in the last 6 months and have no restrictions on your normal daily activities. Other types of cancer are acceptable if the cancer has been treated successfully and it has been more than 12 months since treatment was completed and there has been no cancer recurrence in this time. Below, you will find a list of questions donors frequently ask. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Youve been exposed to hepatitis B or received hepatitis B immune globulin, or, Youve taken experimental medications or vaccines as part of a clinical trial, Growth hormone from human pituitary gland, Insulin from cows (known as bovine insulin) that came from the United Kingdom. May not be suitable for everybody, including people with advanced HIV, allogenic bone marrow transplant, kidney problems, taking certain medications, or those who are dehydrated. Includes the Tdap vaccine. It may help to not watch the needle as it is inserted, and you don't have to see the blood. Heres an overview of when its OK to donate blood: Still not sure if youre eligible to donate blood? Wait 3 months if there is any question whether or not the instruments used were single-use equipment. 2. However you must wait 14 days after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis. If you are taking antibiotics, then you will need to wait for 24 hours after your last dose before you can donate blood. In most cases, you can still donate blood after getting a COVID-19 vaccine if you are symptom-free and feeling well at the time of your donation. All rights reserved. You must be at least 17 years old to donate to the general blood supply, or 16 years old with parental/guardian consent, if allowed by state law. But the benefits of donating blood arent, Discover whether you can donate blood if you have a tattoo. 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. In one 2018 study, researchers . Keep in mind that if youve had herpes in the past, you still carry the virus even if you dont have symptoms. Donation Intervals Donor Deferral for Men Who Have Had Sex With Men (MSM) Ebola Virus Heart Disease Heart Murmur, Heart Valve Disorder Hemochromatosis (Hereditary) Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count Hepatitis, Jaundice Hepatitis Exposure HIV, AIDS Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Hypertension, High Blood Pressure Immunization, Vaccination People who meet blood donation criteria can donate whole blood every 56 days (8 weeks). So, if you are currently taking medication and want to know if you can give blood, check the top 40 acceptable and unacceptable medications first. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Do not give blood if at any time you received HIV treatment also known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lower risk in-situ cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin that have been completely removed and healed do not require a 12-month waiting period. Discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation. Researchers found that even animal subjects who didnt have any symptoms could still spread HPV when they carried the virus in their blood. Acyclovir has activity against several different viruses including herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1), 2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Its taken from your arm, but it goes to a centrifuge machine that spins fast to separate plasma from the rest of the blood and then return the blood back to your body. Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection. Blood donation - Mayo Clinic DOI: Red Cross frequently asked questions page, clinicalcenter.nih.gov/blooddonor/can_i_donate.html, vitalant.org/donate/donor-eligibility.aspx, transfusionguidelines.org/dsg/wb/guidelines/he025-herpes-simplex, givingblood.org/donate-blood/who-can-donate.aspx, Can You Donate Blood If You Have a Tattoo? If you have a fever or a . Valacyclovir treatment is best started within 24 hours of symptom onset (ie, rash, blisters, tingling, burning). Available at: https://www.mskcc.org/about/get-involved/donating-blood/medications. Be sure to list all medications that you take before giving blood. Thalomid (thalidomide capsule). Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. Available for Android and iOS devices. If you've recently gotten a tattoo, traveled abroad or take medications . In Florida you can donate whole blood every 56 days, at minimum. Clicking on links above and printing the forms, Calling the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program at, Obtaining copies at one of the donation center locations or a mobile blood drive, Anyone who has used injected drugs, steroids or another substance not prescribed by a doctor in the past three months, Men who have had sexual contact with other men in the past three months, Anyone who has a congenital coagulation factor deficiency, Anyone who has engaged in sex for money or drugs in the past three months, Anyone who, in the past 12 months, has had close contact with lived with or had sexual contact with a person who has viral hepatitis, Anyone who has had babesiosis, a rare and severe tick-borne disease, or the parasitic infection Chagas' disease. Medicines that interact with valacyclovir may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with valacyclovir. Chlamydia, venereal warts (human papilloma virus), or genital herpes are not a cause for deferral if you are feeling healthy and well and meet all other eligibility requirements. Find Out if You Can Give Blood | Giving = Living - HHS.gov To donate blood, you must: Be in general good health. Acyclovir also passes into breastmilk. "All employees involved in blood collection are self-monitoring their . The FDA has given emergency authorization for convalescent plasma therapy with high antibody levels to treat COVID-19. More research is needed to verify whether HPV can be spread through blood. Before you donate blood, you must sign an Authorization to Release Protected Health Information. 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 5'5" and boys shorter than 5'). And you are never too old to donate blood. If the skin disease has become infected, wait until the infection has cleared before donating. This includes people with diabetes who take insulin or oral medications for diabetes management. Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, prevent blood from clotting. Take valacyclovir exactly as directed by your doctor and for the exact time prescribed, even if your symptoms improve. Allergy, Stuffy Nose, Itchy Eyes, Dry Cough. Yes, you can donate blood even if you have herpes but only if youre not having an outbreak of symptoms and if its been more than 48 hours since you finished an antiviral treatment. If you have recurring cold sores, initiate treatment as soon as possible following the onset of symptoms (tingling, burning, or itching). Acceptable as long as the skin over the vein to be used to collect blood is not affected. Acceptable as long as you feel well when you come to donate, and your blood pressure is at least 90/50 (systolic/diastolic). However, you must be off of aspirin for at least 2 full days in order to donate platelets by apheresis. Can You Donate Blood If You Smoke? Cannabis, Nicotine & More Wait 3 months if a piercing was performed using a reusable gun or any reusable instrument. You'll also be given a. Whether you can donate blood if you have HPV isnt conclusive. Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Donating blood plasma is similar to donating blood. These medications are not usually taken together. For example, you can donate platelets every 7 days for up to 24 times a year, and you need to be at least 17 years old. Also, avoid touching the rash and then your eyes. A tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Every 15 seconds, someone in the United States needs platelets. Donating blood with COPD: What to know - Medical News Today You are aged between 18 and 65. A simple blood donation can save the life of a child with leukemia, restore the strength of a cancer patient or provide a critical transfusion to an accident victim. If you take any of these, you may not be eligible to donate platelets for a certain time period. have used needles to take any drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor in the last 3 months, are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, in the last 3 months, have taken money, drugs or other payment for sex in the last 3 months, have had sexual contact in the past 3 months with anyone described above. Not have had a fever in the last 4 weeks. If the underlying condition was treated, most sites will require you to wait 24 to 48 hours after completing the course of antibiotics before donating. This results in concentrations in the body that are comparable to those achieved with IV acyclovir. https://www.redcrossblood.org/content/dam/redcrossblood/missing-documents/3468_Medication-Deferral-List.pdf. If you have treated yourself for genital herpes and it recurs, then seek retreatment as soon as possible. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=2eda833b-1357-4ed4-a093-194524fcb061&type=pdf. Blood donation steps include:. Valacyclovir. To be eligible, you need to have sufficient antibodies from the virus, not the vaccine. If you have traveled or lived in a malaria-risk country, a waiting period is required before you can donate blood. Before donating, eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water. Our highly-specialized educational programs shape leaders to be at the forefront of cancer care and research. Persons under the age of 17 may, however, donate blood for their own use, in advance of scheduled surgery or in situations where their blood has special medical value for a particular patient such as a family member. Papillomavirus can be transmitted through the blood and produce infections in blood recipients: Evidence from two animal models. Donating blood with a history of herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) is generally acceptable as long as: This is true about most viral infections. Those who have tested positive for COIVD-19 antibodies but didn't have a diagnostic test and never developed symptoms can donate without a waiting period or having a diagnostic test done before donation. Arixtra (fondaparinux), Fragmin (dalteparin), Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran),Savaysa (edoxaban), Xarelto (rivaroxaban),and Lovenox (enoxaparin) are also prescription blood thinners- Do not donate since your blood will not clot normally. An official website of the United States government. If you take these drugs and donate blood, you may experience excessive bleeding and bruising. When you donate blood, a special machine is used to separate plasma from blood and make plasma available to be given to a donor. Plasma is a component of your blood. Unable to Give Blood? Revision date: March 30, 2022. prednisone, acyclovir, Valtrex, Zovirax, Deltasone, lysine, tetracaine topical, benzocaine topical, famciclovir, valganciclovir. Learn how blood donations help those affected by Sickle Cell Disease. Wait 2 weeks if you were vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine but do not know if it was a non-replicating, inactivated, RNA based vaccine or a live attenuated vaccine. You can be exposed to malaria through travel and travel in some areas can sometimes defer donors. You may still be able to donate whole blood. Anyone who has risk factors for the degenerative brain disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Anyone who spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1996, Anyone who received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom or France from 1980 to the present, Anyone who has spent time that adds up to five years or more in France or Ireland from 1980 to 2001. Blood contains several components, including red cells, platelets and plasma. 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. Peak concentrations of acyclovir are reached within one to three hours. In some countries national legislation permits 16-17 year-olds to donate provided that they fulfil the physical and hematological criteria required and that appropriate consent is obtained. Plasma donors may donate as often as every 28 days. If you live with or have had sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis, you must wait 12 months after the last contact. You can call 866-236-3276 to speak with an eligibility specialist about your travel. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB). In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation, Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood. This will prevent the spread of infection. This distinguishes it from Zostavax, the live shingles vaccine, which is given as a single dose (shot) and requires a 4-week deferral. Acceptable as long as the instruments used were single-use equipment and disposable (which means both the gun and the earring cassette were disposable). General Eligibility Requirements sore throat, cough, runny nose or diarrhoea for at least 1 week. Medically reviewed by Carmen Fookes, BPharm. Donation is acceptable after routine teeth cleaning or dental work. It takes about 1 hour to donate blood. This includes work release programs and weekend incarceration. Please, come prepared to discuss your travel details when you donate. Common Reasons People Can't Donate Even if you were deferred in the past, you may be eligible to donate now. Wait at least 6 months following a heart attack. Anyone who has taken the psoriasis medication etretinate (Tegison), which has been discontinued in the U.S. Approved to treat cold sores in children aged older than 12 and for the treatment of chickenpox in children aged two to 18 years. Individuals with low blood volumes may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood given with whole blood donation. Did you leave the city or resort at any time? Medications for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating. Its also worth knowing a few of the details of when you can or cant donate blood, and if you have a temporary infection or condition that may make you unable to donate. Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever, and have no problems breathing through your mouth. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. If you have traveled outside of the United States and Canada, your travel destinations will be reviewed at the time of donation. You may be eligible to donate, depending on your condition. Wait for 3 days after having oral surgery. Considervolunteeringorhosting a blood drivethrough the Red Cross. You are at risk for getting infected if you: Do not give blood if you have any of the following conditions that can be signs or symptoms of HIV/AIDS. For example, if you take aspirin products on Monday, the soonest you can donate platelets is Thursday. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/050722s045s046,050723s045s046,050758s042s043,050759s050s051lbl.pdf. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. You can also donate blood if you have: Asthma if it's well treated, with no current shortness of breath Diabetes if it's well treated with diet and/or medications All rights reserved. Go to your donation appointment well rested and wearing a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up above your elbows. Tegison (etretinate) at any time you are not eligible to donate blood. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Bird Flu Deaths Prompt U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry, COVID Treatment in Development Appears Promising, Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check, Getting Outdoors Might Help You Take Fewer Meds, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time). Acceptable if you were vaccinated for influenza, pneumonia, tetanus or meningitis, providing you are symptom-free and fever-free. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Changes to the donation criteria - Canadian Blood Services If you plan to donate blood, its important to know that theres no risk of getting the COVID-19 infection from the procedure. Can you drink alcohol while taking Brilinta? Learn more about the different types of blood, including which one is the rarest and the role of genetics, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Learn more about hepatitis and blood donation. You may still be able to donate whole blood. Other prescription blood thinners not listed, call 866-236-3276 to speak with an eligibility specialist about your individual situation. I owe them everything. Quote from Chandra, a blood donation recipient. There is no substitute for human blood all transfusions use blood from a donor.