Can I give blood?

You should be in good health to give blood. However, there are a few things to consider.

Covid-19

Please see Covid-19 eligibility criteria.

Cold sores

• You can give blood once the cold sore is dry and healing (scabbed over), as long as there are no wet areas and you don’t have any tingling.

Coughs, colds, sore throats

• You can give blood once you’re getting better and feeling well.

Hay fever and similar allergies

• You can give blood provided you have no symptoms, even if you’re taking antihistamines.

Infectious diseases: Mumps, measles, chickenpox, shingles or German measles

• If you’ve had mumps, measles, chickenpox, shingles or German measles, you can give blood provided you’ve been fully recovered for two weeks or more.
• If you have had slapped cheek syndrome (Human Parvovirus B19) you can give blood provided you’ve been fully recovered for four weeks or more.
• If you have been in contact with someone with an infectious disease and have never had the disease yourself, you must wait four weeks before giving blood.

Other infections

• If you’ve had some kind of infection, please wait two weeks from recovery and at least seven days from completing your course of antibiotics.

Sickness, diarrhoea

• You can give blood provided you have been fully recovered for two weeks or more.

Broken bones

• You can give blood once your plaster cast has been removed and any wounds have healed.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol

• You can give blood while being treated for high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
• If your blood pressure medication changes, you will have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood.

Travel outside the UK can affect blood donation. This is because some infections may be caught abroad, usually through mosquito, or other insect bites.

Malaria

Testing rules vary if you have LIVED in a malarial country for 6+ months, VISITED for less than 6 months, or HAD Malaria.

If you have spent 6 months or more in a malarial area or HAD malaria, you may have a higher chance of past infection and partial immunity that can hide symptoms. Therefore, we will test your donation for malaria antibodies when you first attend and after any new exposure to malaria.

If you think your travel history could affect your ability to donate, we urge you to get in contact before your session, either online or by phoning us on 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Visitors

• If you have VISITED a malarial country, you can donate blood or plasma 4 months after you return to the UK.
• If donating between 4–12 months after return, we must test your donation for malaria antibodies (MAT test).
• After 12 months, no test is needed.
• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.

Residents / Long stay (6+ months)

• If you have LIVED in a malarial area for 6+ months at any time in the past, you must wait at least 4 months after leaving the malarial area before donating.
• This test must be repeated each time you visit a malarial area.
• Blood/plasma donors can donate immediately, and their donation be tested.
• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.

If you have HAD Malaria

• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.
• You must wait at least 3 years after treatment and recovery and 4 months after leaving a malarial area.
• This process repeats each time you visit a malarial area.
• Blood/plasma donors can donate immediately, and their donation be tested.

West Nile Virus (WNV)

You can give blood following travel to a WNV area (including North America and some parts of Europe). We decide when you come along if we need to do an extra test for WNV on your donation. So please make sure you tell us about any recent travel outside the UK, each time you give blood.

Tropical Viruses

Several viruses are spread by mosquitoes, including Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and Zika. As long as you have been well, you can give blood 4 weeks after travel to an affected area. If you have been ill during or shortly after your visit, we’ll ask you to wait 6 months before giving blood.

South American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease)

Chagas disease is found in some areas of South and Central America, and is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi (often abbreviated to T. cruzi ). People who are at risk of Chagas can give blood in Scotland provided we’ve done an extra test to check they haven’t been exposed to this condition

If you or your mother were born in South or Central America, or if you have ever lived in this region for more than four weeks, please contact us on 0345 90 90 999 for advice about whether you will need testing for T. cruzi before donating. Testing will involve giving a small sample of your blood which we send to our lab to test. If your test comes back negative we will get in touch to let you know you can donate.

Outbreaks and new infections

New infections can emerge at any time, so our rules can change at short notice. Please check back each time you’re preparing to give blood.

Destinations that DO NOT delay blood donation

Every time you come to give blood we will ask you: whether you were born abroad; whether you have lived or worked abroad for more than 6 months; and whether you have had any illnesses during or after travel abroad.

It is very important you tell us about your recent travel, if you were ill while abroad, or shortly after you came back. Different rules may apply if you have lived in one of these countries for more than 6 months.

Please get in touch before coming along to give blood. You should also check our additional eligibility criteria before giving blood. Talk to one of our advisers before coming along to give blood, on 0345 90 90 999.

You must never give blood if:

• you are HIV positive or receiving treatment for HIV
• you are HTLV positive
• you are a Hepatitis B carrier
• you are a Hepatitis C carrier
• you have ever been treated for Syphilis
• you have ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once. This applies to any illicit injected drug, including body-building drugs, chemsex drugs and tanning agents.
• you have ever had sex with someone who has previously had a viral haemorrhagic fever (eg Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, or Crimean-Congo fever)

You must not donate: 

• if you think you need a test for HIV/AIDS, HTLV or Hepatitis.

You must not donate for at least three months after:

• having sex with a partner who is, or you think may be:
  • HIV or HTLV positive
  • a Hepatitis B carrier
  • a Hepatitis C carrier
• having sex with a partner who has ever received money or drugs for sex
• receiving money or drugs for sex
• taking Post Exposure Prophylaxis or oral Pre Exposure Prophylaxis(PEP and oral PrEP/Truvada®) to prevent HIV infection. Different rules may apply depending on the reason you took this so please ask.
• taking part in chemsex (Chemsex is a specific type of sexual activity where people take certain stimulant drugs to let them have sex for longer and with more people. Drugs associated with chemsex include methamphetamine, mephedrone and GHB)

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you will not be eligible to give blood for up to three months.

You must not donate for at least two years if:

• you have received an injection for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection.

Other questions

You will also be asked whether over the last three months you have:

• had sex with someone new, or resumed a previous or infrequent sexual relationship
• had sex with more than one person

If you answer ‘yes’ to either (or both) questions, you will then be asked if you had anal sex with any of your sexual partners

• If you have, you will not be able to donate for up to three months
• If you have not had anal sex, you will be able to donate (subject to all other eligibility criteria)

If you would like to discuss any of the above, do not hesitate to get in touch on 0345 90 90 999
If these issues affect you, please visit the Our Partners section of our site for contact details of organisations that may be able to help.

For more information, read: 

• FAIR: New questions for donors
• FAIR Report
• FAIR Report (Executive summary)

Routine screening tests

• You can give blood after a routine screening test (eg. cholesterol screening, smear, mammogram), even if you’re still waiting for your results

Endoscopy, colonoscopy

• You will have to wait four months after any test involving a flexible scope, even if your results are clear.

Other tests or investigations

• You are unable to give blood until you have received your test results from your doctor or nurse.
• This includes if you have been required to take a Covid-19 test and haven’t had your result yet 

If you think your test results could affect your eligibility to give blood, please get in touch on 0345 90 90 999

You must wait at least 12 weeks between donations. If you’re not sure how long it’s been since you last gave blood, call us during working hours on 0345 90 90 999, or fill in our online enquiry form and someone will get back to you.

Providing you’re fit and well, you may be able to give blood while taking regular medication. However, there are some exceptions:

Antibiotics

• Please wait two weeks from recovery and at least seven days after completing a course of antibiotics before giving blood.
• If you are taking antibiotics for your skin, you may still be able to give blood.

Flu vaccine

• You can give blood provided you are feeling well and have had no adverse side effects to the vaccination.

Shingles vaccine

• Whether you can donate depends on the brand of vaccine you have had. If you have had Shingrix®, you can donate immediately. This may not be the case with other brands.
• Please make sure you know the name of the vaccine before you come to session. 

High blood pressure medication

• You can give blood while taking high blood pressure medication.
• If your blood pressure medication changes, you’ll have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood.

Antihistamines

• You can give blood provided you are symptom free on the day.

Contraceptives

• You can give blood while using oral or other contraceptive measures.

Painkillers

• You can usually give blood after taking painkillers.
• Please make sure you tell us about them, as they may affect how we use your donation.

Iron supplements

• You are unable to give blood if you have been advised to take iron supplements by your doctor or nurse.

Specific medications

You will be unable to give blood while taking the following medications, and for a variable length of time afterwards:

• Finasteride (Proscar®, Propecia®)
• Dutasteride (Avodart®, Acitretin®, Neotigason®)
• Isotretinoin (Roaccutane®)
• Valproate (Epilim®, Epival®, Episenta®, Convulex® or Depakote®)
• Topiramate (Topamax®)
• Anti-thyroid drugs (e.g. Carbimazole)
• Modafinil (Provigil®)
• Drugs which suppress the immune system (e.g. Prednisolone)
• Pre and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP and PrEP /Truvada®) for HIV prevention (see sexual relations for more information)

Tattoo / piercing

• If you’ve had a tattoo or piercing, you’ll have to wait for four months before giving blood.
• This is because some blood-borne viruses, such as Hepatitis B, can be spread by unsterile needles.

Permanent and semi-permanent make-up

• If you’ve had permanent or semi permanent make-up done, you’ll have to wait for four months before giving blood.

Pregnant

• You are unable to give blood if you are pregnant.

Recent pregnancy

• You can give blood six months after giving birth.
• This gives you time to replace the iron normally lost during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding

• You can give blood if you are breastfeeding.

Miscarriage or termination

• If you have had a miscarriage or termination before 12 weeks you may be eligible to give blood. Please get in touch with us to discuss.

Please note the following regarding dentistry:

• If you’ve had a scale and polish, and/or fillings, you can give blood after 24 hours.
• If you’ve had root canal treatment, dental capping (crown), dental implants, tooth extraction, you can give blood after seven days, provided you have no pain or infection and all wounds are healed.
• If you have had dental work abroad, you will need to wait three months from completion before you can give blood
• For more complicated dental procedures, you may need to wait longer before giving blood.
• You should not give blood if you have pain or toothache which could be caused by an infection or dental abscess.

If you have received, or think you may have received, a blood transfusion since 1st January 1980, you will not be able to give blood. This measure was introduced in 2004 by the UK Blood Transfusion Services.

This is just one of a range of measures designed to minimise the risk of passing variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) through the population.

The chance of any individual contracting vCJD from a blood transfusion is already very small. Experts hope that these additional safety measures will help eradicate vCJD from the UK population.

• You can still give blood if you received a blood transfusion in the UK before 1980.
• If you had a transfusion before 1996 and have not been tested for hepatitis C, speak to your GP about getting tested
• If you received blood in another country before 1980 please contact us for advice.
• You may be eligible if your own blood was given back to you (autologous transfusion). 

If you would like to discuss any of the above, get in touch on 0345 90 90 999

Height and weight chart for female blood donors aged 17-19

Age

• You can become a blood donor as soon as you reach your 17th birthday.
• If you’re a new donor, you can start giving blood anytime up to your 66th birthday.
• If you have given blood before, even if it was some time ago, you can give blood up until your 72nd birthday.
• If you’re over 72 and in good health, you can continue to give blood provided you have made a full donation in the last two years.

Weight

• To give blood, you must weigh over 7st 12lb (50 kg).

Donation research and medical evidence has shown that younger women of smaller build are at an increased risk of fainting following blood donation. For this reason, additional height and weight criteria apply to women aged 17-19.

If you are aged 17-19…

• and you are over 5’ 6” (168cm) in height, or over 10st 3lb (65kg) in weight, you can give blood.
• and you are under 5’ 6” (168cm) in height, and under 10st 3lb (65kg) in weight, your height and weight will be assessed using our height and weight chart, before deciding if you can give blood.

Even if you are not able to give blood at the moment, we would love you to come back once you reach your 20^th birthday, or if your weight increases in the meantime.

Complementary therapies which use needles or break the skin (including acupuncture)

You can give blood as long as:

1. the reason you had treatment doesn’t stop you giving blood, and

2. your treatment was performed by an NHS professional or a qualified healthcare professional

If you were treated by someone who was not a registered health care professional, you’ll have to wait four months before giving blood. Registered healthcare professionals include doctors, dentists, registered nurses, physiotherapists and others. Contact us if you’re not sure.

Body building drugs and tanning injections

• You must never give blood if you have ever injected (or been injected with) illegal or non-prescribed drugs, including body building drugs or tanning injections.

Platelet rich plasma facials (“Vampire” facials)

• You have to wait four months after a platelet rich plasma facial to give blood.

Colonic irrigation or colonic hydrotherapy

• You have to wait four months after colonic irrigation or hydrotherapy before giving blood.

Herbal and homeopathic medicines / nutritional supplements

• You can usually give blood while taking these, provided you don’t have a medical condition that stops you.

For most operations, you can give blood once you have fully recovered and all wounds are healed.

Keyhole or minor surgery

• If you’ve had keyhole or minor surgery, you can give blood when you’re fully recovered.

Endoscopy, colonoscopy

• If you have had an investigation or procedure using a flexible scope, you’ll have to wait four months before giving blood.

Major surgery

• After major surgical procedures, you may have to wait at least six months before giving blood.

Blood transfusions

• You will be unable to give blood if you have received a blood transfusion since 1980.
• This does not apply if your own blood was given back to you (autologous transfusion). Please get in touch for more information on 0345 90 90 999.

Surgery overseas

• If you have had surgery anywhere outwith the UK or Republic of Ireland, you’ll have to wait at least three months before giving blood.

Waiting for surgery?

• If you are waiting for an operation or another procedure, you may still be able to donate. Please contact us on on 0345 90 90 999 or via our online form before going along to a donor session.
• We will let you know if you can donate before surgery or if you need to wait.

Some long term health problems and serious illnesses mean we can’t accept you as a donor.

Conditions that stop you giving blood include:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Chronic lung disease (except asthma)
• Some neurological diseases and disorders, including myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and multiple sclerosis

Please get in touch so we can let you know if you are able to give blood.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol

• You can give blood while being treated for high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
• If your blood pressure medication changes you have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood.

Diabetes

• You can give blood if you have diabetes but do not need insulin treatment.
• Complications caused by diabetes may mean you will be unable to give blood.
• Please make sure you tell your diabetic team if you give blood. This is because blood donation may affect the tests used to monitor diabetic control (HbA1c levels). If possible, it’s best to avoid giving blood in the two months before a routine diabetic review, so your HbA1c levels have not been affected by donation.

You must never give blood if:

• You have ever injected or been injected with drugs; even a long time ago or only once.
• This includes any illicit injected drug, including body-building drugs, chemsex drugs and tanning agents.
• You may be able to give blood if a doctor prescribed these drugs. Please ask.

Currently, you must not donate if you fall into one of the following categories:

• You have Covid-19 confirmed by a positive test (PCR or LFT)
• You have suspected Covid-19 and are waiting for the results of a PCR test arranged by your doctor or other health care provider
• You have Post-Covid Syndrome, also known as Long Covid

If you have symptoms but haven’t been tested for Covid-19 or have had a negative test result for Covid-19 then whether you can donate will depend on your symptoms.

Long Covid

Long Covid is diagnosed if someone experiences symptoms relating to Covid-19 infection for more than four weeks. If symptoms last 12 weeks or more, this may also be known as Post-Covid-19 Syndrome.

SNBTS do not accept donors with Long Covid until at least six months have passed without symptoms (including fatigue). This is based on the JPAC guidance. It means we do not accept donors until they have been better for at least six months.

SNBTS ask donors to declare, on their donor health check (which must be completed prior to every donation), any changes to their heath, or any infections.  Blood donation works on the principles of kindness and mutual trust, and we ask all donors to adhere to the blood donor selection process by providing completely honest answers to all the questions asked. This is to protect their own health and that of the patients who receive their donation. Compliance with all donor selection criteria is crucial, in order to ensure the continued safety of the blood supply.

If you have any questions about our donor selection criteria our medical team will be happy to help. Please give us a call on 0345 90 90 999.

When will I be eligible to donate?

• If you have tested positive for Covid-19 you must wait at least seven days after recovery from your symptoms
• If you have tested positive but haven’t had symptoms, you must wait at least seven days after your last positive test
• If you have had Long Covid, you won’t be able to donate until you have been fully recovered for six months

Recovery from Covid-19

If you have had Covid-19 you must be fully recovered before giving blood.

This means you must:

• have returned to normal activities
• not have ongoing Covid-19 symptoms including fatigue
• not be undergoing tests or follow up.

The only exception to this is changes to taste and smell which can go on for an extended period of time after recovery from Covid-19. 

I’ve had my Covid-19 vaccination/booster. Can I donate

• If you’ve had a Covid-19 vaccine (or booster vaccine) you can book in to give blood immediately provided you don’t have any side effects from the vaccination
• If you’ve got a blood donation appointment booked before your vaccination appointment, you can still come to donate. 

Genetic haemochromatosis is a condition where someone may need to be treated by having blood taken (‘venesection’) to prevent their body from storing too much iron. Patients with genetic haemochromatosis can become blood donors as long as their iron levels are at an acceptable level. They must also meet the same blood donation rules as any other donor.  

If you have genetic haemochromatosis and would like to give blood, the first thing to do is talk to your doctor or the hospital clinic that looks after you. If they think you would be suitable, they can refer you to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service as a potential donor. Our clinical staff will look at this referral and decide whether you meet our guidelines for people with genetic haemochromatosis. We will get in touch with you and your clinic to let you know the outcome. 

If you have been diagnosed with genetic haemochromatosis through family screening but don’t need venesection, you may be able to donate straight away. Please get in touch with us to find out more.