ABCs of eligibility for donating blood, platelets and plasma

Acupuncture performed with single-use disposable needles does not affect your ability to donate. If you are not sure what type of needles were used during your treatment, you must wait three (3) months before you can become eligible to donate.

The minimum age to donate is 17. There is no upper age limit for donating in Canada.

For those between 17 and 23 years old, who have never donated before, there is a minimum height and weight requirement as outlined below. If you are below 147 cm (4’ 10”), you may become eligible when you turn 23.

If you are a first-time donor, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility.

Alcohol intoxication at the time of donation attempt does not allow donors to give informed consent to proceed with donation. Donors must not be intoxicated or under the influence of substances at the time of donation.

If you have environmental or seasonal allergies, you are eligible to donate as long as you are feeling well at the time of your appointment.

Please remember to bring a list of your prescription and non-prescription medications with you to your appointment. If you are allergic to skin cleaning solution, adhesive medical tape or other medical supplies, please inform our clinic staff (alternatives are available for donor comfort and safety). Our team members will be happy to ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible.

If you experience an allergic reaction or are feeling unwell as a result of donation, please visit our donor health and safety page and/or call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Anemia is the term used to describe a low level of hemoglobin (or healthy red blood cells).

There are many causes of anemia. These may include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, blood breakdown (hemolysis), altered function of vital organs, various types of cancers, etc.

As donation leads to removal of blood, it can cause and worsen anemia. As such, people with anemia, as well as those who do not meet the hemoglobin thresholds, are not able to donate.

Learn more about Anemia

If you have an infection, you should not donate blood and plasma. When taking medication for an infection, you may temporarily be unable to donate. Learn more about medications below. For additional information, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

You are eligible to donate as long as you are feeling well at the time of your appointment. Please remember to bring a list of any prescription and non-prescription medication with you to your appointment.

People taking oral or other forms of birth control, as well as some hormonal supplementation, are eligible to donate. Learn more about medications below. For additional information, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

To donate, returning donors must wait:

• Whole blood donation: 56 days for donors registered as male, 84 days for donors registered as female
• Plasma donation: Plasma donation intervals may vary depending on the donor centre and whether there was any additional blood loss with a prior donation.
• Platelet donation: 14 days

To confirm how often you can donate, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Eligibility to donate blood and plasma after receiving a transfusion varies. Blood and blood products include red blood cells, platelets, plasma, immunogloblulins (IVIg, SCIg), Rh immune globulin (RhIg), factor concentrates, etc.

Typically, you must wait six (6) months after receiving a blood or blood product from another person before you can donate blood.

If you have received a blood or blood product, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Your eligibility to donate depends on the type of cancer you had and when it was treated. 

Skin cancer: 

• Squamous cell or basal cell: You are eligible to donate if your treatments were successful. Some medications may require a temporary deferral after completing your treatment. Please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals to discuss your eligibility. 
• Melanoma: You are eligible to donate one (1) year after your treatment is complete and you are cancer-free. 

For most types of cancer, you are eligible to donate one (1) year after your treatment is complete and you are cancer-free. 

These include: 

• Breast cancer 
• Prostate cancer 
• Colon cancer 
• Thyroid cancer 
• Uterine cancer 

Individuals with certain blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, are not eligible to donate. 

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283). 

Individuals who use cannabis may be eligible to donate. At the time of donation, donors must not be intoxicated as this prevents us from obtaining informed consent for blood donation.

Due to the lack of consensus amongst medical professionals as to why chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) occurs, and a concern that it is caused by infectious agents that may be transfusion transmissible, individuals with CFS are not eligible to donate.

There is no deferral for cocaine use, except if used intravenously. If you have ever used cocaine intravenously, you are not eligible to donate. At the time of donation, donors must not be intoxicated as this prevents us from obtaining informed consent for blood donation.

Please see COVID-19 criteria below. You are eligible to donate if you are:

• Feeling completely well and fully recovered.
• Not taking antibiotics.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

A person who has had a COVID-19 infection must wait 10 days from when symptoms started or 10 days after a positive test result if asymptomatic.

For more information about eligibility, we ask donors to call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Learn more on our COVID-19 page.

People living with Crohn’s disease are not currently able to donate. Crohn’s disease can affect various parts of the gut, where erosions in the gut can introduce infection into the blood. This may only be detectable on endoscopy and may not cause symptoms.

The deferral period for donating blood, plasma or platelets depends on the type of dental work you received.

• For dental cleaning, filling, brace adjustment or crown restoration (such as bonding or veneers), you must wait until the day after your dental treatment to donate. For plasma donation, you may be eligible to donate right away if you are donating at one of the donor centres listed here. If you are unsure, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).
• For dental extraction, root canal or dental/gum surgery, you must wait 72 hours after your treatment to donate or until you have fully recovered. For plasma donation after a root canal, you may be eligible to donate right away if you are donating at one of the donor centres listed here. If you are unsure, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).
• If you received a bone/gum graft (also called allograft) originating from an animal or human source, other than your own body for dental reconstruction, you must wait 12 months after your treatment to donate.

If you have diabetes that is managed with diet and/or medications other than insulin, you can donate.

For those who are managing their blood sugar with insulin, you can donate as long as all of the following apply:

• No symptoms or need for medical assistance for high or low blood sugar for previous three (3) months.
• No foot ulcers currently requiring medical treatment.
• No dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up.
• For those with Type 1 diabetes, you have to have eaten within two (2) hours of making a donation.

Please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility further.

You may be eligible to donate if you have been seizure-free for six (6) months. If you are taking medication to manage epilepsy, please consult our list of medications below or call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility.

Every donation is tested for certain blood borne infections to maintain the safety of Canada’s blood supply. These tests are extremely good at detecting the presence of infections, called “true positives”. Sometimes these tests detect an infection even when it is not present, called “false positive”.

When we have a donation where our first set of tests detect an infection, we do additional testing to confirm these results. This helps us determine whether the tests were a true or a false positive.

Previously, anyone who tested positive, even if it was a false positive, was not eligible to donate. Recently, Health Canada approved a re-entry program for some false positive results to allow otherwise eligible donors to be re-tested after a six (6) month waiting period for certain infectious markers.

If you have received a false positive result in the past and would like to set up an appointment to be re-tested, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals.

Learn more about false reactive test results

You are eligible to donate.

Every time you donate, we ask about where you may have previously lived or travelled. This is because the places you’ve lived in and travelled to can expose you to different infections that may be transmitted by blood donation.

For instance, donors who have travelled to locations outside of Canada, the U.S., Antarctica and Europe have a waiting period of 21 days after their return home before donating blood or plasma. These criteria identify donors at greater risk for acquiring illnesses spread by mosquitos such as chikungunya.

Other deferrals include those for malaria.

Because the risk of infection diminishes over time, people who have lived for six (6) months or longer in a country where malaria is prevalent are deferred for blood donation for three (3) years after departure from the country, but they can donate plasma.

Those who have visited a malaria risk area are deferred from blood donation for three (3) months after leaving that area, but they can donate plasma. If your visit lasted less than 24 hours, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility.

As the patterns of disease, research, and our testing platforms change, we remain committed to continuously reviewing and updating our eligibility criteria and removing barriers to donation. Our efforts are focused on building a more inclusive donation process, while ensuring the safety and sufficiency of the blood supply.

Learn more about geographic deferrals

Donors are eligible to donate when feeling well, without any swollen joints, provided they meet all other screening criteria.

For routine tests and procedures, you may be eligible to donate even if you have not received your results. Examples of routine tests include blood pressure checks, blood tests such as cholesterol or thyroid hormone levels, colonoscopy for colon cancer screening mammogram for breast cancer screening.

For any other medical tests or diagnostic procedures, you should know your results before donating. Your eligibility may depend on the reason for the test or procedure and/or the result. 

If you have questions about your eligibility or ability to donate, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

With some heart conditions such as a heart attack or coronary heart disease, you may be eligible to donate. Please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your condition.

For those between 17 and 23 years old, who have never donated before, there is a minimum height and weight requirement as outlined below. If you are below 147 cm (4’ 10”), you may become eligible when you turn 23.

This is just one of multiple steps taken to reduce the risk of fainting/near-fainting (vasovagal reactions).

Why do you need to know my gender before I donate?

Canadian Blood Services values all blood donors and understands that selecting either male or female may not align with how some individuals identify. Unfortunately, due to limitations of the binary registration computer software system we use, all donors still need to register as either male or female.

We know this isn’t ideal, and we understand there is a distinct difference between biological sex and gender. We are actively working on changes to our processes in consultation with trans and non-binary community members, as well as the registration software owner, to make our registration and screening practices more inclusive.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is a common inherited disorder of iron metabolism that leads to accumulation of iron in vital organs.

For those who are otherwise eligible to donate, whole blood can be collected every 56 days for donors registered as male and every 84 days for donors registered as female.

For many individuals with hemochromatosis who have preserved organ function and are otherwise also eligible, whole blood donation is another effective way to help manage iron levels.

For those who are donating whole blood at Canadian Blood Services and also participating in therapeutic phlebotomies, there must be a minimum of seven (7) days between phlebotomy and whole blood donation.

Individuals who have developed iron accumulation causing organ compromise are not eligible to donate whole blood at a Canadian Blood Services donor centre. Therapeutic phlebotomies can be arranged through the treating health care practitioner under medical supervision. Once organ function improves, individuals with hemochromatosis can become eligible to donate whole blood.

If you’re looking for more information about hemochromatosis, click here.

Hemoglobin is a protein that contains iron. It helps deliver oxygen to and removes carbon dioxide from organs and tissues. Blood donation, through removal of red blood cells, leads to removal of hemoglobin. As a result, donors can develop low hemoglobin levels or anemia.

To ensure donors have sufficient blood levels after donation and to prevent anemia, a minimum hemoglobin level is required at each donation. This required hemoglobin level is slightly higher than the level that is used to diagnose anemia.

Hemoglobin level is tested using a fingerpick test before each donation. For whole blood, platelets and some types of plasma donation, donors registered as male must have a hemoglobin level of at least 130 g/L and donors registered as females must have a hemoglobin level of at least 125 g/L.

For source plasma donation, the hemoglobin level must be at least 125 g/L.

Learn more about hemoglobin

Donors with a history of hepatitis may be eligible to donate six (6) months after fully recovering unless the cause was due to hepatitis B or C virus.

If you ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you are not eligible to donate, even if you have never been sick from the infection.

If you live with or have had sexual contact with a person who has or had hepatitis, call us to speak with one of our trained professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility.

Those living with HIV or who have tested positive for HIV are not eligible to donate.

People who have had sexual contact with a person who has tested positive for HIV are not eligible to donate for 12 months since the last sexual contact.

• People who take oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), must wait four (4) months since last use to donate, as low levels of HIV may be missed in testing. PrEP and PEP medications can interfere with HIV testing which we rely on as part of our multi-layered approach to safety. HIV care has reached a point where people’s viral loads can be undetectable. Undetectable equals untransmissible (U=U) only applies to sexual transmission of HIV. Unfortunately, even those who have an undetectable viral load may transmit the virus through blood transfusion. The chance of transmission is much higher with a bag of blood or blood component (plasma, platelets) due to much higher total amount of virus that the recipient is exposed to.

For additional information, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

People may take hormonal supplements for many different indications.

Hormones including testosterone, progesterones, estrogens or sex hormone suppression may be used for regulating menstrual symptoms, contraception, sexual function, gender affirmation, osteoporosis treatment or supplementing low levels. These indications are not a cause for deferral.

Hormone therapy may also be utilized to treat other conditions such as breast cancer, adrenal insufficiency, changes in thyroid activity, etc. Please refer to specific sections on this page for further information.

To learn about eligibility relating to specific hormone containing products, please refer to the medication section.

For additional information, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Those who have a history of recreational injection (intravenous) use of drugs/illicit substances are currently ineligible to donate. There is a chance of bacterial and viral infection transmission.

When people donate blood, their body’s iron levels also decrease. Eventually, low iron levels lead to low hemoglobin/blood count (anemia). People with anemia, as well as those who do not meet the hemoglobin thresholds, are not able to donate.

Iron deficiency is common. Those who donate regularly or have heavier menstrual blood losses, recent pregnancy, or a meat-free diet are most likely to develop iron deficiency.

One laboratory test used to determine iron levels is called ferritin. A low ferritin result is a reliable indicator of iron deficiency. A high ferritin result may indicate presence of hemochromatosis.

Learn more about iron

Learn more about ferritin testing

If you have been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, you are no longer eligible to donate. 

If you have been diagnosed with cutaneous lupus (limited to skin), you are eligible to donate.

People who have had malaria in the past are not eligible to donate whole blood or platelets. Malaria is a blood borne illness, which is why our eligibility criteria are so strict. The parasite that causes malaria can lie dormant long after someone has recovered from the disease. This means that no matter how much time has passed, there remains a small but significant risk that someone who has had malaria at some point in their lives may still carry the malarial parasite in their red blood cells and platelets.

However, you may be able to donate plasma if it has been six (6) months or more since you have recovered from malaria. This is because the process used to manufacture medications from plasma removes the parasite that causes malaria.

If you have travelled to an area where malaria is prevalent, you may still be able to donate blood or plasma. Depending on how long you were in the affected region, the waiting period for blood donation can range from three (3) months to three (3) years. There is no waiting period for donating plasma.

Canadian Blood Services has reviewed alternative approaches to manage the risk of malaria on the blood system. As a result of our most recent review, we are striving to evaluate and implement a test that will determine if a person has any malaria parasites in their blood at the time of donation.

Currently, there is no Health Canada-approved blood donor screening test available for malaria. Until testing can be put in place, the existing donor screening process for malaria will remain in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply.

To learn more about geography-related deferrals due to malaria risk, visit the travel eligibility section of our website or call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

If you are considering donating plasma and would like to learn if you are able to do so, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

For vaccines, please see Vaccinations

Most medications do not prevent you from donating. Some medications may impact eligibility because:

• they may help manage health conditions that can change eligibility, or;
• when present, even in small quantities, in the donated blood or blood product can be harmful to the recipient, or;
• may make certain parts of the blood not usable for transfusion therapy.

If you are currently taking medication and want to know if you are eligible to donate, review our list of acceptable and unacceptable medications below. If your medication is not listed, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Please bring your list of medications to your donation appointment.

COMMONLY USED MEDICATIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE WHEN DONATING BLOOD OR PLASMA.

You are eligible to donate. Hormone supplementation, birth control or oral contraception pills that may be prescribed for regulating menstrual cycles are not a cause for deferral either.

You are eligible to donate if you are feeling well at the time of your appointment and meet all other criteria.

If you are currently taking medication for your mental health, please review our list of acceptable and unacceptable medications as well.

If your medication is not listed, or you have additional questions about eligibility, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283). Please bring a list of your medications to your donation appointment.

If you have had mpox or have had contact with someone who has mpox, you should wait 42 days from the start of symptoms or the day of last contact before your donation appointment, whichever is longer. If you have questions, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to discuss your eligibility.

People living with multiple sclerosis are currently not able to donate. Little is known about why and how this condition occurs. We continue to evaluate the eligibility of people living with multiple sclerosis.

Eligibility requirements after an organ or tissue transplant/graft vary.

• If you received a tissue graft from one area of your own body to another, you are eligible once fully recovered from the procedure.
• You must wait 12 months after receiving any type of tissue from another person or animal, including dental grafts, before becoming eligible to donate.
• If you ever received a dura mater (brain covering) transplant, you are not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

If you have questions about your eligibility, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, you are eligible to donate. For other types of arthritis, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283). 

Donors must wait three (3) months after having a body piercing to ensure complete healing.

PCOS is not a cause for deferral.

While pregnant, donors are not eligible to donate. 

During pregnancy and lactation, the body has an increased need for the nutrient iron to support the development of the fetus and production of milk. Hemoglobin levels also decrease during pregnancy. Pausing blood donation can help maintain robust hemoglobin and iron stores. 

If you reside in Ottawa, Brampton, Edmonton or Vancouver, we encourage you to consider donating your cord blood to Canadian Blood Services Cord Blood Bank.

After childbirth, donors are asked to wait six (6) months before returning to donate. 

After a pregnancy loss or termination, donors are asked to wait six (6) weeks. This time frame allows for a wellness check and to ensure no immediate complications have occurred.  

Donors with Rh negative blood type who have been pregnant may have received a blood-derived protein called Rh immune globulin (also called WinRho/RhoGAM). This injection prevents the person from developing antibodies against the blood protein RhD. As this is a blood-derived product that can interfere with testing of the donated blood, donors must wait six (6) months before donating.

All donors are asked about sexual behaviour. Donors must wait three (3) months after anal sex with a new partner or multiple sexual partners.

Learn more about sexual behaviour-based screening.

Deferral periods for donors with a sexually transmitted infection vary.

• For chlamydia, one must wait until it has been completely treated (no symptoms and antibiotics completed).
• For syphilis and gonorrhea, donors must wait at least 12 months after completing treatment before returning for blood donation.
• For genital herpes, you are eligible to donate once lesions have healed.
• Venereal warts (HPV/human papilloma virus) are not a cause for deferral.

If you have questions about sexually transmitted infections and donor eligibility, call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals.

Most skin conditions are acceptable if the skin over the vein used to collect blood or plasma is not affected.

If you have a skin infection, wait until the infection has cleared before donating.

Most medications to control acne will not disqualify you from donating.

If you have a skin condition and are wondering if you can donate, call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals.

You are eligible to donate once stitches are removed and laceration is healed provided there is no infection, and you are not taking antibiotics.

Eligibility after surgery varies based on reason for the surgery and healing from the procedure.

If the condition for which the surgery was performed is not a reason for deferral, individuals must wait until fully recovered and feeling well prior to donating.

If you received any blood products, you must wait six (6) months before donating.

If you have recently had surgery, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals to discuss your eligibility.

For those who have had a stroke (also called cerebrovascular accident, CVA) or a mini-stroke (also called transient ischemic attack, TIA), you must wait six (6) months before donation to ensure there is time for complete recovery.

At the time of donation, we also ask that donors ensure they do not have any medical restrictions to pursuing everyday activities.

If you have had a stroke and would like to discuss your eligibility further, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to speak with one of our trained health professionals.

You must wait three (3) months after getting a tattoo (includes microblading and permanent makeup) to ensure complete healing before returning to donate.

If you are planning a trip outside of Canada or have just returned, be sure you are informed about how your destination may affect your ability to donate.

Visit our travel page for more information.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition where inflammation in the colon can cause bacteria to enter the blood of a person, even if they are feeling completely well. During blood donation, the bacteria can enter the collected blood. Transfusing blood containing bacteria to a patient can be life-threatening.

Medications used to manage ulcerative colitis may work by dampening the person’s immune system. Some of these medications could be present in the collected blood and harmful to the blood recipient.

Donors are eligible to donate once they have entirely recovered or have undergone colon resection and have been off medications to control the inflammation for five (5) years.

If you have recently been vaccinated, you may be temporarily deferred from donating blood or plasma. Review our full list of deferral periods for vaccinations below.

To donate blood or plasma, you must also weigh at least 50 kg (110 lbs.). If you are between the ages of 17 and 23, and have never donated before, you must meet our weight and height criteria.

This is just one of multiple steps taken to reduce the risk of fainting/near-fainting (vasovagal reactions).

Please review the table below to determine your eligibility.

Although there are no upper weight limits for eligibility to donate, our donation beds do have weight restrictions as per their manufacturers to ensure no harm or discomfort to the donor.

The donation beds in mobile donation settings can safely accommodate maximum weights of 350 lbs. or 500 lbs., depending on the location. Beds in our permanent donor centres can safely accommodate up to a maximum weight of 300 lbs. or 400 lbs., depending on the location. At select facilities we do have donation beds that can accommodate a maximum weight of 600 lbs.

We do our best to ensure our donor centres and mobile events are as accessible as possible, but it is always a good idea to phone us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) prior to your appointment, so that we can ensure you do not encounter any unexpected barriers to donation.

To donate plasma at one of our plasma donor centres, you need to be at least 50 kg (110 lbs.) and 145 cm (4’10’’).

If you are a first-time donor or to confirm your eligibility to donate plasma, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).

Why do you need to know my gender before I donate?

Canadian Blood Services values all blood donors and understands that selecting either male or female may not align with how some individuals identify. Unfortunately, due to limitations of the binary registration computer software system we use, all donors still need to register as either male or female.

We know this isn’t ideal, and we understand there is a distinct difference between biological sex and gender. We are actively working on changes to our processes in consultation with trans and non-binary community members, as well as the registration software owner, to make our registration and screening practices more inclusive.