The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new donor screening requirements — The Donor Center will be following these new screening practices, beginning June 6, 2023. We encourage you to read the detailed donor screening updates as per the FDA.
The following is general donation criteria. This is not a complete list. The information below serves only as a guideline to donor eligibility. Please contact The Donor Center at Roswell Park at 716-845-8275 if you have any questions.
For all donations
- Minimum weight: 110 pounds
- Minimum age: 17 years of age
- Must be in general good health (not experiencing any active cold or flu symptoms, headaches, cold sore or infections at time of donation)
- Must not have donated whole blood within the last 56 days.
- There is NO waiting period to donate after receiving the Pfizer, Moderna or J&J COVID-19 vaccines. Masks are still required inside the Donor Center.
*Please be sure to eat a substantial meal before your donation.
Attention platelet donors
If you plan to schedule a platelet donation, have not donated at the Donor Center since mid-July 2016, or have a history of pregnancy, please contact the Donor Center before scheduling your appointment online. Recent regulatory requirements have resulted in a change to the eligibility criteria for some platelet donors, and we would like the opportunity to speak with you over the phone before scheduling your appointment. Please call 716-845-8275.
Additional criteria
Temporary reasons
| Condition | Length of time before you can give blood |
|---|---|
| Not feeling well for any reason | Until symptoms are over |
| Cold, sore throat, respiratory infection, flu | Until 3 days after symptoms are over |
| Travel to an area of the world where malaria is a problem | 3 months after return |
| Heart disease | Contact us for medical eligibility at 716-845-8275 |
| Body piercing | 3 months after procedure unless done under sterile conditions |
| Tattoos | 3 months after last tattoo (including eyebrow microblading) |
| Blood transfusion | 3 months after receiving blood |
| Diabetes | Oral and long acting agents acceptable. Donors taking short acting insulin may not donate platelets. |
| Pregnancy, abortion or miscarriage | Six weeks after end of pregnancy |
| Surgery, serious injury | When healing is complete and feeling well. |
| Syphilis, gonorrhea | 3 months after treatment completed |
| Chlamydia, venereal warts (HPV), or genital herpes | Accept |
| Dental work | Routine dental procedures acceptable. Oral surgery, root canal, or tooth extraction- deferral is 72 hours from procedure. Non-routine dental procedures, please call. |
| Skin Disease, Rash or Acne | Acceptable providing the needle site area is free and clear. Certain acne medications require a waiting period after the last dose. |
| Vaccinations/Immunizations | In some cases, a deferral period may be necessary. Please discuss your recent vaccination history with your collections specialist. Flu shots do NOT have a waiting period. |
| Have had sex with someone who has hepatitis B or hepatitis C | 3 months after last occurrence |
| You have had sex with anyone listed in the first three items under Permanent Reasons below | 3 months after last occurrence |
| You are a man who has had sex with another man | 3 months after last occurrence: More Information |
Cancer-related reasons
| Type | Length of time before you can give blood |
|---|---|
| Localized basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma | Acceptable if completely excised and healed. See medication list. |
| Carcinoma-in-situ ( the stage where cancer cells are still within their site of origin) of the vulva, cervix or breast; papillary thyroid carcinoma | Acceptable when treatment is completed |
| Leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, melanoma and multiple myeloma | Permanent deferral |
| Cancers treated by surgery ONLY | Defer one year from date of surgery |
| Chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment | Defer five years from date of last treatment |
| Brachytherapy (radiotherapy implanted in the body) | Defer five years from removal |
| Tamoxifen and other medications used for breast cancer preventative treatment, Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) | Acceptable, provided the donor meets all other criteria for cancer |
Medications Deferral List
Download our medication deferral list
Please do not give blood if you:
(Permanent Reasons)
- Have used illegal drugs with a needle, even once
- Have ever had a positive test for HIV (AIDS virus)
- Are a man or woman who has had sex for money or drugs any time since 1977
- Are a hemophiliac
- Had viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- Had babesiosis or Chagas disease
- Have a blood relative who had CJD
*If you have any additional questions or concerns about donating, please contact us at 716-845-8275.
*The reasons for not being eligible to donate blood may change at any time.