Common Deferrals*
Medications | Vaccinations | Conditions | Other
Medications
Most medications do not affect your ability to donate blood, including:
- Blood pressure medications
- Cholesterol medications
- Seasonal allergy medications
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Birth control
- Thyroid medications
- Acetaminophen
- Anti-inflammatory medications, including ibuprofen and aspirin*
*Anti-inflammatory medications do affect platelet donations. Do not take these medications for two full days prior to donating platelets.
Some medications do require a temporary deferment to protect the recipient of the blood from any harmful exposure to medications or illnesses:
Antibiotics
You cannot donate blood if you are currently taking antibiotics or have an infection. You may donate blood once you have completed your full course of antibiotics.
If you are taking antibiotics as a part of a long-term preventative treatment, stop by the Blood Center to be evaluated on an individual basis.
Accutane
You cannot donate blood while taking Accutane. You may donate blood one month from the date of your final dose.
Avodart
You cannot donate blood while taking Avodart. You may donate blood six months from the date of your final dose.
Clotting factors
If you have ever taken clotting factors, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
If you have had sex with anyone who has ever taken clotting factors, you are deferred for one year from last sexual contact.
Coumadin
You cannot donate blood while taking Coumadin. If you have ever taken Coumadin, please stop by the Blood Center to be evaluated on an individual basis.
Propecia
You cannot donate blood while taking Propecia. You may donate blood one month from the date of your final dose.
Proscar
You cannot donate blood while taking Propecia. You may donate blood one month from the date of your final dose.
Soriatane
You cannot donate blood while taking Soriatane. You may donate three years from the date of your final dose.
Tegison
You are permanently deferred from donating blood if you have ever taken Tegison.
Warfarin
You cannot donate blood while taking Warfarin. If you have ever taken Warfarin, please stop by the Blood Center to be evaluated on an individual basis.
Vaccinations/Shots
No waiting period is required after receiving most vaccinations, including:
- Anthrax
- Hepatitis A
- HPV
- Influenza
- Lyme Disease
- Polio (Salk injection)
- Rabies (no animal bite involved)
- Recombinant
- Tetanus
- Typhoid (injection)
A one-week waiting period is required after receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination
A two-week waiting period is required after receiving one of the following:
- Measles (Rubeola)
- Mumps
- Polio (oral Sabin)
- Typhoid (oral)
- Yellow Fever
A four-week waiting period is required after receiving one of the following:
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
- Chicken Pox/Shingles
A year waiting period is required after receiving one of the following:
- Rabies (after an animal bite)
- HBIG (Hepatits B Immune Globulin)
Conditions
Some conditions do require a temporary or permanent deferment to protect the recipient of the blood from any harmful exposure to illnesses and you, the donor, from compromising your health.
Cancer
You can donate blood after being cancer free for five years following most types of cancer.
You cannot donate blood if you have ever had melanoma, lymphoma or leukemia.
Diabetes
If your diabetes is controlled by oral medication or diet, you are able to donate blood.
If you are insulin dependent, please stop by the Blood Center for an individual evaluation.
Heart Disease
If you have a history of coronary or rheumatic heart disease, you are permanently deferred from donating blood
Hepatitis
If you have had hepatitis since age 11, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
If you have received Hepatitis B immune globulin, you are deferred for one year.
If you have had close contact with a person who has hepatitis, you are deferred for one year from the date of the last contact.
Gonorrhea
You will be deferred for one year from the date of your final treatment for gonorrhea.
Syphyllis
You will be deferred for one year from the date of your final treatment for syphilis.
HIV/AIDS
If you have ever tested positive for HIV, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
If you have sex with anyone with AIDS or a positive HIV test, you are deferred for one year from last sexual contact.
If you are a male who has had sex with another male since 1977, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
If you have ever taken money or drugs as payment for sex, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
Chagas or Babesiosis
You are permanently deferred from donating blood if you have Chagas Disease or Babesiosis.
vCJD (the human version of mad cow disease)
You are permanently deferred from donating blood if you have a blood relative who has been diagnosed with vCJD.
You are also permanently deferred if you have resided in countries where the risk of contracting vCJD is higher. For more information, view a list of vCJD risk areas
Phlebitis
If you have a history of phlebitis, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
Tattoos and Piercings
Ear piercings will not cause you to be deferred from donating blood as long as the piercing was performed by a professional using a sterile, single-use needle.
However, you will be deferred for one year from the date of obtaining self-inflicted ear piercings, self-inflicted body piercings, professional body piercings and tattoos.
Transfusions, Transplants and Grafts
You are deferred from donating blood for one year from the date of receiving a blood transfusion, bone graft, organ and tissue transplant.
If you received an artifical bone graft, you are only deferred until after you are released from your physician, typically six weeks after surgery.
If you had a blood transfusion in the U.K. or France between 1980-present, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
You are permanently deferred from donating blood if you have had a Dura Mater Transplant graft.
Pregnancy
If you are or might be currently pregnant, you cannot donate blood
You can donate blood after you have been cleared from your physician six weeks post partum.
Needle Sticks and IV Drugs
You are deferred for one year from the date of an accidental contaminated needle stick.
If you have ever used IV drugs, you are permanently deferred from donating blood.
If you have had sex with an IV drug user, you are deferred from donating blood for one year.
*Note: This page contains only some of the most common deferrals. It is not complete and is not intended to be used in place of medical screening by trained professionals at the blood center at the time of donation. Each donor will be required to answer questions about his/her medical history in a private screening booth. Medical staff will make a final decision about each donor's eligibility based on rules specified by the Food and Drug Administration. These rules were established to ensure the donation process will be safe for the donor as well as for the patient receiving the blood. The guidelines listed below were last revised on February 23, 2011. Changes to the criteria may have been made since the last revision date. Contact the Scott & White Blood Center at 877-724-HERO for the most current eligibility information.