Requirements

Requirements

empty history booth

Each Blood for Missions blood drive event is governed by the FDA and strictly adheres to the federal safety requirements listed below:

The short version….

  • Must be at least 17 years old (16 year olds may give with parent present)
  • Weigh at least 110 lbs.
  • Healthy on day on the drive (no colds, flu, fevers)
  • No tattoos in the last year
  • May donate whole blood once every 2 months (56 days)
  • Must have picture I.D. to donate

The long version directly from the FDA’s website:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048368.htm#AmIEligibletoDonateBlood

Am I Eligible to Donate Blood?

To meet the basic requirements for giving blood, you must be healthy (feel well and be able to perform normal activities) and:

  • have a blood pressure within normal limits
  • have a normal temperature
  • be free from acute respiratory diseases
  • be at least 16 years old
  • have a normal blood hemoglobin level
  • not have donated blood in the last 56 days

A number of conditions, which will be discussed with you at the donation site, make you temporarily or permanently ineligible to give blood, such as:

  • past use of needles to take drugs that were not prescribed by a doctor
  • being a male who has had sexual contact with another male since 1977
  • getting tattooed in the last year (unless done under sterile conditions)
  • living in or visiting certain countries during designated periods of time, for example, living for a period of time in a country where “mad cow disease” is found or visiting an area where malaria is found.