Blood donation saves lives and is safe for most healthy adults. You can donate whole blood every 56 days up to six times per year. Other types of blood donations, such as platelet or plasma donations, have different guidelines. It’s important to wait the recommended amount of time between blood donations to avoid complications.
Types of donations include whole blood, platelets, plasma, and double or power red blood cells.
Whole Blood
How often you can donate: Every 56 days (8 weeks), up to six times per year
Whole blood is the blood that flows through your veins. During a whole blood donation, you provide red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and white blood cells. A whole blood donation can be used as whole blood or separated later into its different components. Donating whole blood is a quick process and usually takes about an hour.
Platelets
How often you can donate: Every seven days, up to 24 times per year
A platelet donation involves donating only platelet cells, which are blood cells that act as clotting agents and prevent bleeding. A machine will collect your platelets and some plasma, while returning your red blood cells to your body. The process takes about three hours.
Plasma
How often you can donate: Every 28 days (4 weeks), up to 13 times per year
During a plasma donation, your plasma (the thin, liquid part of your blood) is separated from the rest of your blood, and then the other components are delivered back into your bloodstream. The appointment takes one to two hours.
Double or Power Red Blood Cells
How often you can donate: Every 112 days (roughly four months), up to three times per year
A double or power red blood cell donation collects two units of red blood cells, cells that carry oxygen through the blood to organs and tissues. This type of blood donation takes about one and a half hours. The ideal blood types are O positive, O negative, A negative, and B negative.
Following donation guidelines is important for caring for your health and ensuring high-quality donations.
You need time for your body to replenish the donated blood and other components.
Waiting periods also help you to avoid an iron deficiency. Research shows that people who donate blood more frequently than the recommended guidelines are at an increased risk of low hemoglobin levels and iron deficiency.
Your age, sex, weight, and other factors may determine whether you’re eligible to donate at any point. Eligibility requirements usually include:
- Normal vital signs, including body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate
- Normal hemoglobin level
- Minimum age of 17 years (may be older for power red blood cell donations)
- Minimum weight of 110 pounds (may be higher for power red blood cell donations)
- Feeling well with no signs of illness
- Any chronic health conditions are well-managed
- No history of nonprescription injected drug use
There are times when you may want to wait longer between donations than the recommended guidelines. This is sometimes called a deferral. Factors to consider include:
- Illness: If you have any signs or symptoms of a current illness, such as a fever or cough, wait to donate blood until you have fully recovered.
- Travel: You may not be eligible to donate blood if you have recently traveled to countries with a high risk of communicable diseases, such as malaria. Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure if your recent travel affects your ability to donate.
- Medications: Wait to donate blood if you are currently taking antibiotics for an infection. You may not be eligible to donate blood if you take certain medications, including blood thinners, acne treatments, or cancer treatments.
- Tattoos or piercings: Wait to donate blood if you have gotten a new tattoo or piercing in the last three months.
- Surgery: Consult with your surgeon or healthcare team to determine the recommended waiting period before donating blood after surgery.
- Pregnancy: Do not donate blood when you’re pregnant, and wait at least six weeks after childbirth to donate.
How often you can donate blood depends on the type of donation:
- Whole blood: Every eight weeks, up to six times per year
- Platelets: Every seven days, up to 24 times per year
- Plasma: Every four weeks, up to 13 times per year
- Double red blood cells: Roughly every four months, up to three times per year
