Donating Whole Blood

You are ELIGIBLE to donate if you meet the following criteria:

  • You are in good health
  • You are at least 16 years old* (living in Iowa, Illinois, or Missouri) *16 years old requires a Parental Consent Form
  • You are at least 17 years old (living in Wisconsin)
  • You weigh at least 110 pounds
  • And you have not donated blood in the last 56 days (or in the last 112 days if your last donation was a double-red cell donation)

You are also ELIGIBLE to donate blood with the following conditions:

Diabetes On injectable insulin
On oral medications
Menstruation  
Antibiotics Oral for acne or dental procedures (without infection), Prevention of UTI
Allergy Medications, Diuretics, Diet Pills, Sleeping Pills, Tranquilizers, Aspirin, Tylenol
Blood Pressure Medications
Cholesterol Medications
Flu shot

Which conditions make me INELIGIBLE to donate blood?
The following medical conditions make you ineligible to donate blood:

  • HIV positive
  • HIV - risk of infection
  • Hepatitis after age 11
  • Jaundice after age 11
  • Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease or family history of the disease
  • Growth hormone made from human pituitary glands
  • Organ Transplant
  • History of Leukemia or Lymphoma

You are also INELIGIBLE to donate blood if:

  • Previous positive hepatitis test
  • Dura Mater (or brain covering) graft
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane), Misoprostol (Cytotec, Arthrotec), Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia), Dutasteride (Avodart), Etretinate (Tegison), Acitretin (Soriatane)
  • Bovine Insulin from United Kingdom
  • Born or Lived in: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria
  • Lived in United Kingdom from 1980-1996 for 3 months or more
  • Lived in Europe from 1980-present for 5 years or more
  • Associated with military base in Belgium, Netherlands or Germany for 6 months from 1980-1990
  • Associated with military base in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece for 6 months from 1980-1996

Which conditions TEMPORARILY restrict me from donating blood?

Smallpox Received a smallpox vaccination in the past 56 days
Had complications (rash, eczema, swelling or excessive redness around the vaccination site) from the smallpox vaccination - wait an additional 14 days from the resolution of the complications
Close contact with the vaccination site of someone else in the past 3 months
SARS Ill with SARS Ð 28 days from resolution of symptoms
Travel to areas affected by SARS Ð wait 14 days from the date of departure from the area
Cared for or had direct contact with a SARS patient Ð wait 14 days from the last date of contact
Heart Disease Angioplasty (with or without stents) Ð Heart Attack Ð wait 6 months
Antibiotics

Wait 48 hours from last dose
(Injectable Ð 7-day wait)
Malaria Travel Visited country with malarial risk Ð wait 1 year
Vaccinations Measles Ð 1-month wait
Mumps Ð 1-month wait
Rubella - 1-month wait
Hepatitis B series (Energix, Heptavax, etc) Ð 2 weks after each dose
Smallpox Ð 56-day wait
Colds and Flu Severe Sore Throat Ð wait until symptom free
Productive Cough Ð wait until symptom free
Temperature Ð wait until symptom free
Cancer Wait 2 years after treatment complete (Skin Cancer - basal cell or squamous cell acceptable; Carcinoma in-situ of cervix acceptable)
Epilepsy/Convulsions Must be seizure free for 6 months
Pregnancy After delivery, miscarriage, abortion Ð
6-week wait
Medical Procedures Surgery without transfusion, depends on the type of surgery, otherwise, must have recovered and be free of infection
Coronary Artery Bypass Ð 1-year wait
Bone, tendon, or corneal graft Ð 1-year wait
Surgery with transfusion of blood or blood components Ð 1 year wait
Tattoo or Body Piercing

Tattoos - no wait*
Ear or skin piercing - no wait*
Acupuncture - 12-month wait (no wait if needle is sterile and used only once)

Note: Tatto or ear or skin piercing must have been received at a licensed facility in Iowa, Missouri, or Wisconsin. If tattoo or ear or skin piercing was received in Illinois you must wait 12-months.

*Proof of Facility Licensure must be provided upon donation

Who can answer my eligibility questions?
If you are not sure of your eligibility to donate blood, contact Donor Support at (563) 359-5401 x119 or (800) 747-5401 x119.

I am eligible! What next?
The first step is to register. Upon completion of the registration process, you can then schedule appointments to donate blood at a donation center of your choice.

Donation Process

  • Prospective donors first complete a health history questionnaire and screening interview
  • The next step involves a brief physical examination of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and a test for anemia
  • If the prescribed medical requirements are met, a unit (about one pint) of blood is drawn from the donor. Afterward, donors are served refreshments while remaining seated for 10 minutes
  • The entire process usually takes less than one hour

You Cannot Get AIDS From Donating Blood
Only sterile, disposable equipment is used throughout the donation process, which makes it virtually impossible to contract a disease from donating blood.

Where to Donate Blood
Select the most convenient donation center for a map, driving directions and hours. For a schedule of upcoming blood drives, contact Jennifer White at 563-823-3976.

  

 

If you have questions about this website please contact donorsupport@mvrbc.com.