What To Expect When Donating Blood

Criteria For Donation

To donate whole blood, donors must be at least sixteen years old and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. Whole blood donations can only be made once every fifty-six days. For platelet, plasma, and double red cell donations, patients must be at least seventeen years old. Female patients who wish to make a double red cell donation must be at least nineteen years old and have a minimum height of sixty-five inches. They must also weigh at least 150 pounds. In addition to these minimum requirements, donors of all blood products must be in good health. Patients with cold or flu symptoms should reschedule their donation after their symptoms resolve, and individuals with anemia are not allowed to donate. Patients with cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, diabetes, or cancer may not be able to donate, and these cases will be assessed on an individual basis. The use of certain anticoagulants could make an individual ineligible to donate.

Learn about what individuals should do before donating next.