Who can donate?

- Age between 18 and 60 years old.

A lower age limit should be set for blood donation, taking into account
national legal requirements for consent, the increased risk of vasovagal
reactions in younger donors, and the increased iron requirements of
adolescents and young menstruating females. While Upper age limits for blood
donation of between 60 and 70 years have been implemented in the past
because of concerns regarding the increasing incidence of cardiovascular
disease with age and the potential risk of adverse reactions, which are more
likely in first-time donors.
- Weight at least 50kg.
It is important to set weight limits for blood donation to protect donors from
adverse effects, in particular vasovagal episodes and anemia.
- Vital signs is in good shape

Pulse - A normal pulse rate of 60–100 per minute and a regular rhythm are
indicators of good health; many BTS recommend that these are examined prior to
donation. The ability to detect significant abnormalities of pulse rate or rhythm depends
on the skill and experience of staff. The usefulness of this examination in a blood donation
setting needs to be assessed.

Body temperature- A prospective donor who is febrile – defined as a core oral

temperature more than 37.5°C is by definition unwell and should be deferred. Fever can
indicate any number of medical conditions and infections.

Blood Pressure - A normal blood pressure (systolic 120–129 mmHg, diastolic 80–
89 mmHg) is generally regarded as an indicator of good health. The measurement of BP
is required by many national guidelines on donor selection and some BTS set an upper
limit of BP for blood donors on the basis that uncontrolled hypertension is an independent
risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

- Had no operation for 6 months – 12 months

 A deferral period of 12 months following major surgery is usually sufficient
to allow for the individual’s full recovery, restoration of iron stores and
resolution of any bacterial infection, and for routine donation testing to detect
any transfusion-transmissible viral infections.
- NOT PREGNANT
The average woman needs about 350–500 mg additional iron to maintain
iron balance during pregnancy. Female donors should be deferred during
pregnancy and for a sufficient time after delivery (or following abortion or
miscarriage) and during lactation to allow for the recovery of iron stores.
Menstruation is not a reason for deferral. However, women who report
regular excessive menstrual bleeding and are found to have low hemoglobin
levels should not donate blood and should be referred for medical assessment.
- Haven’t donated blood in last 56 days.
Iron deficiency is common worldwide and donation-induced iron deficiency
is of particular concern in relation to women of childbearing age and
adolescents. Haemoglobin screening safeguards anaemic individuals from
donating blood and also protects returning donors from donation-induced iron
deficiency (DIID), the depletion of iron stores by repeated donations
- Hemoglobin Level at least 125 g/l.
There are no rapid, simple and direct bedside methods for determining
iron status. The pre-donation assessment of donor hemoglobin remains the
best approach. Collecting a unit of blood from a donor with a normal
hemoglobin level also provides good quality blood components, with adequate
and consistent hemoglobin content in the collected blood.
— Minor surgical procedures: defer until treatment is complete and
successful and they have resumed normal activity
— Major surgery: defer for 12 months
 Can I still donate after recent vaccination?
Hepatitis B- Individuals who have received hepatitis B post-exposure
prophylaxis with vaccine and/or immunoglobulin: accept 12 months after
exposure.
Rabies- Defer, Individuals who have received rabies post-exposure
prophylaxis with vaccine and/or immunoglobulin: defer for 12 months after
exposure.
Inactivated vaccines
Non-live vaccines and toxoids include cholera, diphtheria toxoid, hepatitis
B, human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, meningococcal meningitis,
pertussis, pneumococcal, polio (injected), rabies, tetanus toxoid, tick-
borne encephalitis and typhoid.

Accept- Individuals who have received non-live vaccines and toxoids (with the
exception of HBV vaccine) with no history or known exposure and who feel well.

Defer- Individuals with no known exposure to hepatitis B who have recently

received routine vaccination: defer for 14 days.
Who Cannot Donate?

- Weight less than 50 kg.

Low body weight and low blood volume have been shown to be
independent predictors for vasovagal reactions.
- Diagnosed with anemia, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac problem, acute
infection, tuberculosis, asthma, and Cancer.
ANEMIA- The history of anemia should be assessed in relation to its cause,
current status and any treatment that has been received. Individuals who suffer
from hematinic deficiency anemia of whatever etiology should not be accepted
as donors until the cause of the anemia has been identified and the anaemia
has been successfully treated.
Accept
Individuals who:
— Have a past history of iron deficiency anaemia, with a known cause that is
not a contraindication to donation, and who have completed treatment and are
fully recovered.
Defer
Individuals who:
— Do not meet the minimum haemoglobin level for blood donation
— Are under investigation or on treatment for anaemia
Defer permanently
Individuals who have chronic anaemia of unknown cause or associated with
systemic disease: e.g. renal failure, rheumatoid disease.
HYPERTENSION- Donors who have recently started taking anti-hypertensive
medication or for whom the dose of anti-hypertensive medication has been
adjusted, should be deferred for a period of 28 days after the blood pressure
has been stabilized.
DIABETES MELLITUS- Individuals with diabetes who require insulin should
be permanently deferred from blood donation because of concerns regarding
diabetes-related complications and an increased risk of hepatitis and other
infections if safe injection practices cannot be assured.
CARDIAC PROBLEM- These donors should not be accepted for donation
unless the circumstances are exceptional and the donation is well-monitored.
Defer permanently.
IMMUNOLOGICAL DISEASES- Individuals with systemic immunological
diseases are generally unwell and are therefore not suitable to donate blood.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES-
Accept
Individuals with asthma provided they are asymptomatic on a maintenance
dose of non-steroid and/or inhaled steroid medication
Defer
Individuals with:
— Asthma during an acute exacerbation: defer for 14 days after full recovery
— Asthma on a course of oral or injected steroids: defer for 14 days
following full recovery and cessation of oral or injected steroids
— Acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis: defer for 14 days following
full recovery and cessation of any therapy, including antibiotics
Defer permanently
Individuals with:
— Respiratory disease if they are breathless at rest or on minimal exertion
or are cyanosed
— Severe obstructive airways disease, including those on long-term oral
steroid therapy
— Chronic or recurrent respiratory infections