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About
Blood
This red liquid carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts
of the body, and carries carbon dioxide and other waste
products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal.
It fights against infection and helps heal wounds, so
we can stay healthy.
There's no substitute for blood. If people lose blood
from surgery or injury or if their bodies can't produce
enough, there is only one place to turn -- volunteer blood
donors.
Donating Blood -- Eligibility FAQ
Am I eligible to donate blood?
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We
all need blood. Donating blood is a wonderful
way to share the gift of life. |
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You
are eligible to donate if you meet the following criteria:
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You are in good health |
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You
are at least 16 years old * (those living in Iowa or Illinois)
*16 years old requires a Parental Consent Form (PDF)
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You are at least 17 years old (living in Wisconsin) |
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You weigh at least 110 pounds. |
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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:
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Diabetes
- On injectable insulin
- On oral medications |
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Menstruation |
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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 conditions make you ineligible to donate blood:
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HIV positive |
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HIV -- risk of infection |
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Hepatitis after age 11 |
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Jaundice after age 11 |
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Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease or family history of Creutzfeldt
Jacob Disease |
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Growth hormone made from human pituitary glands |
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Organ transplant |
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History of Leukemia or Lymphoma |
You are also ineligible to donate blood if:
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Previous positive hepatitis test |
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Dura Mater (or brain covering) graft |
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Isotretinoin (Accutane), Misoprostol (Cytotec, Arthrotec),
Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia), Dutasteride (Avodart),
Estretinate (Tegison), Acitretin (Soriatane) |
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Born or lived in:
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Niger
- Nigeria
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Lived in the United Kingdom from 1980 -- 1996 for three
months or more |
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Lived in Europe from 1980 -- present for five years or
more |
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Associated with military base in Belgium, Netherlands
or Germany for six months from 1980 -- 1990 |
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Associated with military base in Spain, Portugal, Turkey,
Italy or Greece for six months from 1980 -- 1996 |
Which conditions temporarily restrict me from donating blood?
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Small pox
- 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 three months
- SARS
- Ill with SARS -- 28 days from resolution of symptoms
- Travel to areas affected by SARS -- wait 14 days from
the date of departure from the area
- Cared for or had direct contact with a SARS patient
-- wiat 14 days from the last date of contact. |
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Heart Disease -- angioplasty (with or without stents) |
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Heart Attack -- wait six months |
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Antibiotics -- wait 48 hours from the last dose
- If injectable antibiotics wait seven days |
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Malaria travel (visited a country with malarial risk)
-- wait one year |
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Vaccinations
- Measles -- one month wait
- Mumps -- one month wait
- Rubella -- one month wait
- Hepatitis B series (Energix, Heptavax, etc.) -- 48 hours
after each dose
- Smallpox -- 56 day wait |
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Colds and flu
- Severe sore throat -- wait until symptom free
- Productive cough -- wait until symptom free
- Temperature -- wait until symptom free |
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Cancer -- wait 5 years after treatment is complete (skin
cancer -- basal cell or squamous cell acceptable; carcinoma
in-situ of cervix acceptable) |
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Epilepsy/convulsions -- must be seizure-free for six months |
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Pregnancy (after delivery, miscarriage, abortion) -- six
week wait |
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Medical Procedures
- Surgery without transfusion, depends on the type of
surgery, otherwise, must have recovered and be free of
infection
- Coronary artery bypass -- one year wait
- Bone, tendon, or corneal graft -- one year wait
- Surgery with transfusion of blood or blood components
-- one year wait |
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Other possible restrictions
- Tattoos -- no wait*
- Ear or skin piercing -- no wait*
- Acupuncture -- 12 month wait (no wait if needle is sterile
and used only once) |
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*Note:
Tattoo or ear or skin piercing must have been received
at a licensed facility in Iowa or Wisconsin (for those
residents). 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
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Who can answer my eligibility questions?
If you are not sure of your eligibility to donate blood, contact
Telerecruitment 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
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Prospective
donors first complete a health history questionnaire and
screening interview |
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The next step involves a brief physical examination of
blood pressure, pulse, temperature and a test for anemia |
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If the prescribed medical requirements are met, a unit
(about one pint) of blood is drawn from the donor |
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Afterward, donors need to remain seated for 10 minutes |
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The entire process usually takes less than one minute |
You cannot get AIDS from donating blood
Only sterile, disposable equipment is used throughout the donation
process, which makes it virtually impossible to contact a disease
from donating blood.
Reprinted
with the permission of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood
Center All rights are reserved. |
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