Eligibility Requirements - Red Cross Blood Donation

Home Eligibility Requirements

• Share via Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Toggle other share options
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Print

Requirements by Donation Type

To ensure the safety of both patients and donors, these are some of the requirements donors must meet to be eligible to donate blood based on their donation type. To explore a list of eligibility information, Search by Keyword or Browse All. 

Now, more people can donate blood. Learn about recent eligibility changes for those who spent time in Europe, and the elimination of questions based on gender and sexual orientation in our Eligibility FAQs. More information can also be found on our LGBTQ+ Donors page.

Whole Blood Donation

• Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year*
• You must be in good health and feeling well**
• You must be at least 16 years old in most states
• You must weigh at least 110 lbs

See additional requirements for students >>

Learn more about donating whole blood >>

Give Whole Blood MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Power Red Donation

• Donation frequency: Every 112 days, up to 3 times/year*
• You must be in good health and feeling well**
• Male donors+ must be at least 17 years old in most states, at least 5'1" tall and weigh at least 130 lbs
• Female donors+ must be at least 19 years old, at least 5'3" tall and weigh at least 150 lbs

See additional requirements for student donors >>

Learn more about donating Power Red >>

Give Power Red MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Platelet Donation

• Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year*
• You must be in good health and feeling well**
• You must be at least 17 years old in most states 
• You must weigh at least 110 lbs

See additional requirements for student donors >>

Learn more about donating platelets >>

Give Platelets MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

AB Elite Plasma Donation

• Donation frequency: Every 28 days, up to 13 times/year*
• You must have type AB blood
• You must be in good health and feeling well**
• You must be at least 17 years old
• You must weigh at least 110 lbs

See additional requirements for student donors >>

Learn more about donating AB Plasma >>

Give AB Plasma Make an Appointment

Common Reasons People Can't Donate

Even if you were deferred in the past, you may be eligible to donate now. Cold, Flu and Other Types of Illness

If you don’t feel well on the day of your donation, please call to cancel. We’ll be happy to see you 24 hours after your symptoms pass.

Illness Deferrals Information About Medications

Most medications will not disqualify you from being able to donate blood, but may require a waiting period after your final dose.

Medication Deferrals Low Iron

If you were unable to donate due to low iron, you may still be able to donate in the future. The Red Cross recommends taking steps to help increase your iron level.

Learn More Travel Outside of the United States

You may be deferred from donating blood or platelets if you have lived in or traveled to a malaria-risk country in the past three years.

Travel Deferrals Play Video Still have eligibility questions? Search by Keyword

Other Ways to Help

Even if you aren't eligible to donate, you can still make a difference. Host a Blood Drive Learn How Start a Virtual Blood Drive Visit SleevesUp Make a Financial Donation Donate Now Become a Volunteer Volunteer Today Important Note to Donors

This list is not complete. Specially trained technical staff are available at each blood collection center and details of each donor’s health and activities are discussed in a confidential setting prior to blood donation. The majority of donor eligibility rules are specified by the Food and Drug Administration for every collection center in the country. Other rules are determined by the medical professionals at specific blood centers, or with other regulatory bodies. Therefore, rules may differ between programs. Donor eligibility rules are intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion. The criteria listed are provided as guidelines to assist you in determining whether you may be eligible to be a blood donor. The final determination of eligibility is made at the time of donation. The guidelines listed below were last revised on 08/01/17. There may have been some changes to these criteria since the last revision date. The most up-to-date eligibility information can be obtained by contacting the Donor Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. 

*Disclaimers

*The number of allowable donations per year may be lower due to red cell and plasma loss limit guidelines. Final eligibility will be determined by the American Red Cross at the time of donation.

** Healthy means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, healthy also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control. If you are not feeling well on the day of your donation, please contact us to reschedule.

+ Please note higher requirements may apply in certain cases. Check with your donor center to confirm.