Donor Eligibility
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.
- Attention blood and platelet donors: 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 Female Donors
If you plan to schedule a platelet donation and have not donated at the Donor Center since mid-July 2016 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 female 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 |
| 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 |
| Travel to an area of the world where “mad cow disease” was present. |
Permanent deferral if: Three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1996, five years or more in Europe from 1980 to present, six months or more associated with a military base in any of the following countries: From 1980 through 1990: Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany From 1980 through 1996: Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece |
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.