Blood donor deferral criteria compared across national blood services
How long you must wait before giving blood, by reason, compared across the American Red Cross (US), JPAC / the UK Blood and Tissue Services, Canadian Blood Services and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. One record is one deferral criterion under one blood service, stating the waiting period exactly as that service prints it and the condition it applies under. Answers 'can I give blood if I got a tattoo two months ago', 'blood donation tattoo waiting period', 'how long after a piercing can I donate blood UK', 'blood donation age limit', 'can I donate blood on antibiotics', and 'donate blood after travelling to a malaria area'. The same criterion genuinely disagrees between services and assistants state one national rule as universal: a tattoo is a 4-month deferral in the UK and Ireland, 3 months in Canada, and in the US no deferral at all unless the tattoo was applied in one of eight named states that do not regulate tattoo facilities.
Records88
Sources8
Verified2026-08-06
Review by2027-02-02
LicenceFacts extracted from freely published donor eligibility pages of national blood services, with a short attributed quote and a link back to each source. Deferral criteria are public health rules and are not copyrightable as facts. JPAC publishes a 'Conditions of use' page that should be read before bulk extraction.
The data
| Criterion | Blood service | Waiting period | Outcome | Condition | Guideline version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | ||
| Age | American Red Cross (US) | at least 17 years old | temporary deferral | to donate to the general blood supply | |
| Allergy, Stuffy Nose, Itchy Eyes, Dry Cough | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as you feel well, have no fever, and have no problems breathing through your mouth | |
| Antibiotics | American Red Cross (US) | 10 days | temporary deferral | after last antibiotic injection for an infection | |
| Aspirin | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | for donating whole blood; must wait 2 full days before donating platelets by apheresis | |
| Asthma | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as you do not have any limitations on daily activities and are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation | |
| Birth Control | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | ||
| Bleeding Condition | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if your blood does not clot normally | |
| Blood Pressure, High | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as blood pressure is no higher than 180/100 | |
| Blood Pressure, Low | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as blood pressure is at least 90/50 | |
| Blood Transfusion | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after receiving a blood transfusion from another person | |
| Cancer | American Red Cross (US) | 12 months | temporary deferral | since treatment was completed and no cancer recurrence; leukemia or lymphoma including Hodgkin's Disease are permanent exclusion | |
| Chronic Illnesses | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as you feel well, the condition is under control, and you meet all other eligibility requirements | |
| Cold, Flu | American Red Cross (US) | until symptoms resolve | temporary deferral | wait if you have a fever or a productive cough; wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection | |
| Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if diagnosed with vCJD, CJD or any other TSE, or received a dura mater transplant, or received cadaveric pituitary hGH before 1985 | |
| Dental Procedures and Oral Surgery | American Red Cross (US) | 3 days | temporary deferral | after having oral surgery; acceptable after dental procedures as long as there is no infection present | |
| Diabetes, Prediabetes | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | if feeling well on the day of donation | |
| Donation Intervals | American Red Cross (US) | 8 weeks | temporary deferral | between whole blood (standard) donations; 7 days between platelet donations; 16 weeks between Power Red donations | |
| Ebola Disease (Diagnosis or Exposure) | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if you have ever had Ebola disease; 8 weeks after travel to a country with an Ebola outbreak or after exposure | |
| Heart Disease | American Red Cross (US) | 6 months | temporary deferral | following an episode of angina, a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty, or a change in heart condition resulting in a medication change | |
| Heart Murmur, Heart Valve Disorder | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as you have been medically evaluated and treated and have not had symptoms in the last 6 months | |
| Hemochromatosis (Hereditary) | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | if you meet all eligibility criteria and donation intervals | |
| Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Blood Count | American Red Cross (US) | hemoglobin at least 12.5 g/dL for women, 13.0 g/dL for men | temporary deferral | hemoglobin level can be no greater than 20 g/dL; 13.3 g/dL required for Power Reds regardless of gender | |
| Hepatitis Exposure | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | if you live with or have had sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis, wait 3 months after the last contact | |
| Hepatitis, Jaundice | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if you ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, at any age | |
| Hidradenitis Suppurativa | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if you have ever had Hidradenitis suppurativa | |
| HIV, AIDS | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive test for HIV infection; 3 months after last dose of oral PrEP/PEP; 2 years after last injection of PrEP/PEP | |
| Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | ||
| Immunization, Vaccination | American Red Cross (US) | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after immunizations for Measles, MMR, MMRV, Chicken Pox and Zostavax; 2 weeks after Mumps, Polio (by mouth), and Yellow Fever; no waiting period for influenza, RSV, pneumonia, tetanus, meningitis, HPV, SHINGRIX, or non-replicating COVID-19 vaccines | |
| Infections | American Red Cross (US) | until infection has resolved | temporary deferral | wait until finished taking oral antibiotics; wait 10 days after last antibiotic injection; Chagas Disease or Leishmaniasis are permanent exclusion | |
| Insulin | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as feeling well the day of donation | |
| Intravenous Drug Use | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after using needles to inject drugs that were not prescribed by a physician | |
| Malaria | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found; 3 years after completing treatment for malaria; 3 years after living more than 5 years in a malaria-risk country | |
| Measles Exposure | American Red Cross (US) | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | if you have not been vaccinated or it has been less than 4 weeks since being vaccinated | |
| Medications | American Red Cross (US) | 1 month | temporary deferral | after last dose of Accutane, Amnesteem, Absorica, Claravis, Myorisan, Sotret or Zenatane (isotretinoin), Proscar (finasteride), and Propecia (finasteride); 6 months for Avodart or Jalyn (dutasteride); 3 years for Soriatane (acitretin); 2 years for Arava, Erivedge, Odomzo, Aubagio; Tegison (etretinate) at any time is permanent exclusion | |
| Men Who Have Had Sex With Men (MSM) | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | individual assessment | individual donor assessment regardless of gender or sexual orientation implemented Aug. 7, 2023 | |
| Monkeypox (exposure or diagnosis) | American Red Cross (US) | 21 days | temporary deferral | minimum, then contact the Red Cross to discuss eligibility | |
| Organ/Tissue Transplants | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after receiving any type of organ transplant from another person; dura mater transplant or animal organ transplant is permanent exclusion | |
| Piercing (ears, body), Electrolysis | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | if a piercing was performed using a reusable gun or any reusable instrument; acceptable if single-use equipment and disposable | |
| Pregnancy, Nursing | American Red Cross (US) | 6 weeks | temporary deferral | after giving birth; persons who are pregnant are not eligible to donate | |
| Pulse (High or Low) | American Red Cross (US) | pulse between 50 and 100 | temporary deferral | a pulse that is regular and less than 50 will require evaluation by the regional physician | |
| Sexually Transmitted Disease | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea; chlamydia, venereal warts (HPV), or genital herpes are not a cause for deferral | |
| Sickle Cell | American Red Cross (US) | permanent exclusion | permanent exclusion | for sickle cell disease; platelet and plasma donation acceptable with sickle cell trait | |
| Skin Disease, Rash, Acne | American Red Cross (US) | no waiting period | accept | as long as the skin over the vein to be used to collect blood is not affected; if the skin disease has become infected, wait until the infection has cleared | |
| Surgery | American Red Cross (US) | individual assessment | individual assessment | the underlying condition that precipitated the surgery requires evaluation; case by case basis | |
| Tattoo | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | if the tattoo was applied in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities: District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wyoming | |
| Travel Outside of U.S., Immigration | American Red Cross (US) | 3 months | temporary deferral | after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found; destinations reviewed at time of donation | |
| Tuberculosis | American Red Cross (US) | until treatment is successfully completed | temporary deferral | if you have active tuberculosis or are being treated for active tuberculosis; acceptable if positive skin test but no active TB and not taking antibiotics | |
| Weight/Height | American Red Cross (US) | at least 110 lbs | temporary deferral | students who donate at high school drives and donors 18 years of age or younger must also meet additional height and weight requirements | |
| Zika Virus | American Red Cross (US) | more than 120 days | temporary deferral | after symptoms resolve, if diagnosed with Zika virus infection | |
| Age, gender and weight | Canadian Blood Services | at least 17 years old | temporary deferral | to become a blood donor in Canada you must be at least 17 years old and meet minimum height and weight requirements | |
| Antibiotics | Canadian Blood Services | temporary deferral | temporary deferral | depending on the reason for taking antibiotics, you may be temporarily unable to donate; if taking antibiotics to treat an infection, you should not donate | |
| Birth control | Canadian Blood Services | no waiting period | accept | ||
| Donation Intervals | Canadian Blood Services | 56-84 days | temporary deferral | between blood donations; donors registered as male (56 days), donors registered as female (84 days) | |
| Donation Intervals (Platelets) | Canadian Blood Services | 14 days | temporary deferral | between platelet donations; new platelet donors are encouraged to donate once a month | |
| Drugs and alcohol | Canadian Blood Services | must not be impaired at the time of donation | temporary deferral | so we can obtain informed consent | |
| Medications | Canadian Blood Services | no waiting period | accept | most medications do not prevent you from donating blood, plasma and platelets | |
| Piercings and tattoos | Canadian Blood Services | 3 months | temporary deferral | after getting a tattoo, piercing, microblading, or permanent makeup | |
| Platelet donation: Aspirin | Canadian Blood Services | 72 hours | temporary deferral | platelet donors only, after last dose of Aspirin (ASA) | |
| Platelet donation: Plavix (Clopidogrel) | Canadian Blood Services | 14 days | temporary deferral | platelet donors only, after last dose | |
| Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) | Canadian Blood Services | 4 months | temporary deferral | after stopping oral PrEP; 2 years after stopping injectable PrEP | |
| Pregnancy | Canadian Blood Services | 6 months | temporary deferral | after childbirth; while pregnant donors are not eligible | |
| Sexual behaviour | Canadian Blood Services | 3 months | temporary deferral | after anal sex with a new partner or multiple sexual partners | |
| Travel and living abroad | Canadian Blood Services | 21 days | temporary deferral | after return from travel outside of Canada, the U.S., Europe or Antarctica | |
| Travel (malaria risk, 24 hours or less) | Canadian Blood Services | 21 days | temporary deferral | if you have spent 24 hours or less in Mexico, Central America, South America or the Caribbean, and were in an area with a risk of malaria | |
| Travel (malaria risk, more than six months) | Canadian Blood Services | 3 years | temporary deferral | if you have spent more than six consecutive months in an area with a risk of malaria | |
| Travel (malaria risk, six months or less) | Canadian Blood Services | 3 months | temporary deferral | if you have spent six consecutive months or less in an area with a risk of malaria | |
| Vaccination: Chicken Pox (varicella) | Canadian Blood Services | 3 months | temporary deferral | after vaccination with ProQuad, Varilrix, Varivax III | |
| Vaccination: Chikungunya | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after vaccination with Ixchiq | |
| Vaccination: Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Canadian Blood Services | no waiting period | accept | COVID-19 vaccines given in Canada | |
| Vaccination: Hepatitis A | Canadian Blood Services | 7 days | temporary deferral | after vaccination with Avaxim, Havrix, Vaqta; 6 months after Hepatitis A immune globulin | |
| Vaccination: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after vaccination with Twinrix | |
| Vaccination: Hepatitis A immune globulin | Canadian Blood Services | 6 months | temporary deferral | after Hepatitis A immune globulin | |
| Vaccination: Hepatitis B | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after vaccination with Engerix B, Recombivax-HB; 12 months after Hepatitis B immune globulin | |
| Vaccination: Hepatitis B immune globulin | Canadian Blood Services | 12 months | temporary deferral | after Hyper HEP B, HepaGam (Hepatitis B immune globulin) | |
| Vaccination: Japanese encephalitis | Canadian Blood Services | 3 weeks | temporary deferral | after vaccination with Ixiaro | |
| Vaccination: Measles, Mumps, Rubella | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after vaccination with MMR II, Priorix | |
| Vaccination: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, varicella | Canadian Blood Services | 3 months | temporary deferral | after vaccination with MMRV, Priorix Tetra, ProQuad | |
| Vaccination: Polio (oral) | Canadian Blood Services | 6 weeks | temporary deferral | after Sabin oral polio vaccine; no waiting period for Salk injection | |
| Vaccination: Rabies (post-exposure with immune globulin) | Canadian Blood Services | 12 months | temporary deferral | after Rabies Immune Globulin - HyperRAB, Imogam rabies, Kamrab | |
| Vaccination: Typhoid (oral) | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after Vivotif (oral); no waiting period for Typhim Vi | |
| Vaccination: Yellow Fever | Canadian Blood Services | 4 weeks | temporary deferral | after YF-Vax | |
| Cold/Covid symptoms | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | 7 days | temporary deferral | no cold/covid symptoms in last 7 days | |
| Medical treatment | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | 6 months | temporary deferral | had medical treatment in last 6 months | |
| Tattoos/Piercing | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | 4 months | temporary deferral | no tattoos/piercing in last 4 months | |
| Travel outside Ireland | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | check guidelines | individual assessment | You have been outside Ireland in last 12 months | |
| Age | JPAC / UK Blood and Tissue Services | under 17 years of age | temporary deferral | They are under 17 years of age | WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 72 (31 July 2024) |
| Body piercing | JPAC / UK Blood and Tissue Services | 4 months | temporary deferral | Less than 4 months from last piercing | WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 76 (30 April 2025) |
Where this came from
Every record above links the page it was taken from and quotes the sentence that states it. These are the 8 sources this dataset was assembled from.
- redcrossblood.orghttps://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html
- blood.cahttps://www.blood.ca/en/blood/am-i-eligible-donate-blood/eligibility
- blood.cahttps://www.blood.ca/en/blood/am-i-eligible-donate-blood/eligibility/medications-vaccinations
- blood.cahttps://www.blood.ca/en/blood/am-i-eligible-donate-blood/eligibility/piercings-tattoos
- blood.cahttps://www.blood.ca/en/blood/am-i-eligible-donate-blood/eligibility/travel-living-abroad
- giveblood.iehttps://www.giveblood.ie/can-i-give-blood/
- jpac.org.ukhttps://www.jpac.org.uk/guidelines/wb/index/age/
- jpac.org.ukhttps://www.jpac.org.uk/guidelines/wb/index/body-piercing/
Machine-readable
- data.jsonThe whole dataset — every record with its source URL and source quote.
- Open Knowledge Format bundleOne JSON object per line — every record's frontmatter and quoted span exactly as it is held here, in one fetch.
- How this is made and checkedWhat "verified against source" does and does not mean.