Blood Drive : San Diego Blood Bank

General Requirements For Blood Donation

Basic Requirements

We know that you would not donate unless you think your blood is safe. However, for us to assess all risks that may affect you or a patient receiving a transfusion, it is essential that you answer each questions completely and accurately. If you do not understand a question, ask the blood center staff. All information you provide is confidential.

To determine if you are eligible to donate we will:

• Ask about your health and travel
• Ask about medicines you are taking or have taken
• Ask about your risk for infections that can be transmitted by blood—especially AIDS and viral hepatitis
• Take your blood pressure, temperature and pulse
• Take a blood sample to be sure your blood count is acceptable

All donors should be in good health on the day of donation. To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Weigh at least 110 lbs
• Be free of major cold or flu-like symptoms
• Have a photo ID with birthdate
• Not have a history of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C at any age
• Not have had any risk factors/behaviors associated with HIV/AIDS

A person should be in good health and feeling well on the day of donation, free of open skin lesions/wounds and infectious diseases, including flu and common cold. Prior to each donation, you will be given a mini-physical and medical interview. A prospective donor may be deferred at any point during the collection and testing process. After the deferral period ends, a donor can return to the San Diego Blood Bank donation center to be reevaluated and resume donation if all donor eligibility requirements are met.