MORE INFORMATION

Urgent Updates

African American Whole Blood Donors Urgently Needed

Donor Information

Blood type needs change daily. If you are not sure of your next eligible donation date, please call the NIH Blood Bank at (301) 496-1048.

Walk-in donors are welcome Monday through Friday from 7:30am - 4:30pm.

NIH BLOOD BANK

About Donating

Here is all the information you need to make a whole-blood or platelet donation:

Please contact us to ask questions about types of donations.

Am I Eligible to Donate?

You can donate blood or platelets if you:

Are healthy
Are at least 17 years of age
Weigh at least 110 pounds.

The tables below address specific situations affecting donation eligibility. See Can I Donate If...? for more details about medical conditions and/or medications that could affect your eligibility to donate.

Medical Condition	Eligibility
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), individuals at high risk and their partners	cannot donate
Colds and flu within 2 days	cannot donate
Diabetes, on or off medication and under control	can donate
Hepatitis or jaundice after age 11	cannot donate
Pregnancy	cannot donate
Pregnancy, after delivery, miscarriage, abortion	6-week wait
Menstruation	can donate
Cancer, treatment complete and disease-free; most types	2-year wait

Medical Procedures	Eligibility
Surgery, without transfusion (except for autologous blood)	can donate
Surgery, with transfusion	1-year wait

Vaccinations	Eligibility
Measles (rubella); measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); chicken pox (varicella)	1-month wait
Flu	can donate
Hepatitis A or B	can donate

Other Possible Restrictions	Eligibility
Ear/Body piercing, sterile procedure/equipment used	can donate
Ear/Body piercing, nonsterile procedure/equipment used	1-year wait
Tattooing	1-year wait
Travel outside the United States or Canada	Contact us

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This page last updated on 08/29/2018

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