# Heart Disease — Blood donor deferral criteria compared across national blood services

For Heart Disease, blood service is American Red Cross (US); waiting period is 6 months; condition is following an episode of angina, a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty, or a change in heart condition resulting in a medication change; outcome is temporary deferral, recorded from its source on 2026-08-06.

- **Criterion:** Heart Disease
- **Blood service:** American Red Cross (US) _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Waiting period:** 6 months _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Condition:** following an episode of angina, a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty, or a change in heart condition resulting in a medication change
- **Outcome:** temporary deferral _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> In general, acceptable as long as you have been medically evaluated and treated, have no current (within the last 6 months) heart related symptoms such as chest pain and have no limitations or restrictions on your normal daily activities. Wait at least 6 months following an episode of angina. Wait at least 6 months following a heart attack. Wait at least 6 months after bypass surgery or angioplasty.

## Source

- https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html

Last verified: 2026-08-06. Review by: 2027-02-02.
Part of [Blood donor deferral criteria compared across national blood services](https://referencesource.org/blood-donor-deferral-criteria/).