General Community Donor Eligibility Guidelines

Acute Illness

Donors with symptoms of cold or flu, stomach virus, fever and/or sore throat are not eligible to donate blood until they are without symptoms.

Age

Donors must be 17 years of age or older . There is no upper age limit for blood donors.

Chronic Illness

Heart Disease: Persons with heart or lung disease who have symptoms or activity restrictions should not donate. However, you may be eligible if you have recovered from cardiac, pulmonary (lung) or vascular surgery and have no physical restrictions.

Cancer: Donors having the following types of cancer may donate: Squamous or Basal Cell Carconoma of the skin. Donors with melanoma may be eligible to donate after evaluation by our Medical Director. Donors with blood cancer (leukemia or lymphoma) may not donate. Donors with other forms of cancer are eligible to donate five (5) years after recovery.

Diabetes: Donors with diabetes controlled with oral medication are acceptable/ Donors who have controlled their diabetes with insulin made before 1990 may have taken bovine insulin. Potential donors who have taken bovine insulin are not eligible to donate. Donors who have always used recombinant insulin are eligible to donate.

Ear or Body Piercing, Tattoo, Electrolysis or Acupuncture

Donors receiving electroloysis or acupuncture treatment are eligible for blood donation. Donors receiving an ear or body piercing may donate if the practitioner has been approved by the Medical Director, or if sterile, single-use equipment is used and a statement on letterhead from the facility performing the procedure is obtained. Donors who have had a tattoo are deferred for one (1) year from the procedure.

Hepatitis

Donors with a history of hepatitis (yellow jaundice) on or after their 11th birthday, may not donate unless the cause was not a virus. Intranasal cocaine use and exposure to someone with hepatitis are reasons for a one (1) year deferral. Administration of medication not prescribed to you, intraveinously (IV) is reason for permanent deferral.

HIV/AIDS

Any individual who has AIDS, has had a positive test for AIDS, or has come into sexual contact with someone diagnosed with AIDS, is not eligible to donate blood.

Illegal Drug Use

Anyone who has taken drugs or money for sex even once in the last year is not eligible to donate. Anyone using an IV need for drugs they are not prescribed, even once, is not eligible do donate.

Meal Prior to Donating

Please eat a balanced meal before donating blood, and drink non-caffeinated drinks within four (4) hours of donating.

Medications

Click here for a listing of medications that may prevent you from donating platelets.

Antibiotics: Donors are accepted two (2) days after the last dose, if recovered from the condition for which it was prescribed. Eligibility is calculated as follows: the day that the final dose is taken is "day 0," the next two days are "day 1 and day 2," and then the donor is eligible to donate again as of "day 3."

Antibiotics for skin condition: Donors are accepted.

Accutane: Donors are accepted four (4) weeks from last dose.

Avodart: Donors are accepted six (6) months from last dose.

Dutasteride: Donors are accepted six (6) months from last dose.

Insulin: Donors are accepted unless they have taken bovine insulin

Propecia: Donors are accepted four (4) weeks are last dose.

Proscar: Donors are accepted four (4) weeks after last dose.

Tegison: Donors are not accepted after ever having taken Tegison.

Recent Pregnancy

Donors are accepted if six (6) weeks or more have elapsed since a vaginal delivery, with no complications. Donors who have delivered by C-section are accepted if three (3) months or more have elapsed since the surgery and there were no complications or blood transfusions.

Recent Surgery

Donors are accepted if the donor has completely recovered and a blood transfusion was not necessary. Individual assessment by a screener is required.

Sexual History

Anyone who has taken drugs or money for sex even once in the last year is not eligible to donate.  The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) also requires that blood centers defer male donors who respond affirmatively to the question "have you had sex with another man, even once, since 1977."

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Donors who have a sexually-transmitted disease, such as syphilis, gonorrhea or chlymidia, are deferred for one (1) year after completion of treatment.

Smallpox

If you have had a smallpox vaccination, you may not donate for 56 days following the vaccination date. In addition, you may not donate for 56 days if you have been exposed to someone who has had the vaccination.

Transfusion

Donors are accepted if one (1) year or more has elapsed since the transfusion.

Travel

Travel outside the country requires individual evaluation for possible exposure to Mad Cow Disease (vCJD), malaria and/or HIV. Some causes for indefinite deferral include:

1. A cumulative stay of three (3) months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996
   
2. If stationed in Europe with the military, a stay of six (6) months or more in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece between 1980 and 1996.
3. If stationed in Europe with the military, a stay of six (6) months or more in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany between 1980 and 1990.
   
4. a twelve (12) month deferral is required to areas of the world deemed at risk for acquiring malaria by the CDC. In addition, there is a three (3) year deferral for anyone who has resided in a malarial-risk area for more than six (6) months, and a three (3) year deferral following recovery from malaria.
   
5. a twelve (12) month deferral has been implemented for military and other personnel who were stationed, traveled, or resided in Iraq, to mitigate any potential risk of transmission of leishmania.

Weight

Donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center Sole Supplier of Blood to Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, Southern Luzerne, Upper Bucks and Upper Montgomery (PA), and Warren (NJ) counties.

An Independent, Not-For-Profit 501(c)3 community organization, Miller-Keystone Blood Center is an an affiliate of Hospital Central Services, Inc.