The Blood Center of Iowa » Did You Know?
General Donor Requirements
You may be eligible to donate if you:
- Are in general good health
- Are 16 years of age or older (donors age 16 and 17 must have a signed parental consent form)
Download consent form
- Weigh at least 120 pounds
- Have not made a Whole Blood donation in the past eight weeks (56 days)
- Have not made a Double Red Cell donation in the past sixteen weeks (112 days)
- Have normal blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin screenings
- Are not pregnant
- Do not have a cold
- Are not under a doctor’s care for any serious illness or injury
Common Eligibility Questions
Q: How long should you wait to donate blood after dental work?
A: You can donate one day after any of the following if your treatment has been completed and you are asymptomatic: cleaning, fillings, crown preparation, temporary / permanent crown placement, extraction, and root canal.
Q: Can you donate blood if you are taking antibiotics?
A: If you are not taking an antibiotic on the day of donation, you are fine to donate. If recently on antibiotic treatment for an infection, you do need to complete taking all medication as directed by your doctor prior to the day of donation. Antibiotics taken to prevent infections are generally acceptable. An example of this would be antibiotic treatment for acne.
Q: How long do you need to wait to donate blood after you get a tattoo?
A: There is no deferral period after getting a tattoo if a facility licensed by the state of Iowa or Wisconsin performed the procedure. If you received the tattoo elsewhere, you must wait one year before donating blood.