Whole Blood

Each donation can save up to three lives. They may not know you by name, but they’ll always remember your gift. With only one hour of your time, you can give a lifetime.

Who Can Donate?

Anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old (16 years old with written parental consent), and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.

Donation Process: Donating blood is safe, simple and takes less than an hour.

Questions About Eligibility: Certain health conditions or medications may temporarily or permanently prevent you from donating blood. The Food and Drug Administration changes donation requirements often, so check the Web site regularly. If you have questions, call 864-239-2937, ext. 3212.

Medical Conditions

• AIDS-individuals at high risk and their partners: cannot donate
• Active cold and flu: cannot donate
• Diabetes, on injectable insulin: can donate
• Diabetes, on oral medications (controlled): can donate
• Hepatitis and Jaundice, after Age 11: cannot donate

Travel

• Visitor in malaria area: can donate after one year
• Resident or Immigrant from Malaria area: can donate after three years
• Stationed on military base in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands from 1980-1990 for > six months: cannot donate
• Stationed on military base in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece from 1980-1996 for > six months: cannot donate

Pregnancy

• After delivery, miscarriage, abortion: can donate after six weeks
• Nursing mothers: can donate six weeks after delivery

Other

• Active Asthma: cannot donate
• Leukemia or lymphoma: cannot donate
• Skin Cancer – basal or squamous: can donate if removed and healed
• In-Situ Cancer: can donate if removed and healed
• Other Cancers: cannot donate until definitive therapy has been completed – must be in remission for 1 year if Stage 1 or 2 or 2 years if Stage 3 or 4
• Angioplasty: can donate after one year
• By-Pass Surgery (symptom free with no restrictions): can donate after one year
• Heart Attack (complete freedom of activities without restrictions): provided all other donor criteria are met. One year wait is subject to evaluation by medical director.

Medical Procedures: Surgery

• Without transfusion after release from M.D.: can donate
• With transfusion of blood or blood components: can donate after one year

Medications: Antibiotics

• Oral given for infection: cannot donate until medication completed
• Oral given for acne, rosacea, preventative measures: can donate
• Injectable: cannot donate until medication completed

Medications: Other

• Allergy Medications, Diuretics, Diet Pills, Sleeping Pills, Tranquilizers, Aspirin, Tylenol, Hormones, Contraceptives, Antidepressants, Blood Pressure*, Cholesterol, and Thyroid Replacement: can donate
• Tegison: cannot donate
• Proscar, Propecia, Accutane: can donate four weeks after medication is completed
• Soriatane: can donate after three years

Vaccinations

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella: can donate after one month
• Flu: can donate, unless utilizing a nasal spray. Deferred for 7 days
• Hepatitis B Vaccine: can donate after 21 day wait
• Hepatitis B Immune Globuline: can donate after one year

Other Possible Restrictions

Ear / Body Piercing

• If performed with single use equipment: can donate
• If not performed with single use equipment: can donate after one year

Tattooing

• If done by a state licensed professional, under sterile conditions: can donate
• If done by you, a friend, or an unlicensed individual : can donate after one year