Basic Requirements for Blood Donation - Red Cross

Basic Requirements
1. Age: 16 to 60 years
(16 & 17 year-olds can donate with parental / guardian
consent)
2. Weight: At least 45 kg (100 lbs) for both males and females
3. Health: Generally good
4. Well Being: Feeling well that day. Not having colds, coughs or flu in the
last one week. No fever (Temperature > 37.5°C) in the last 3
weeks
5. Haemoglobin level: At least 12.5 g/dl
Intervals Between Blood Donation
• Al least 12 weeks (3 months) between each blood donation.
Major Illness/Surgery
Persons with the following conditions are not eligible to donate blood:
• Diseases of the heart or lungs (Donors who are asthmatic and without symptoms of
asthma is eligible)
• Cancer
• High blood pressure on medication
• Diabetes on medication
• Abnormal bleeding tendency or blood disorder
• Major surgery (can donate after 12 months)
• AIDS or symptoms of AIDS, such as unexplained fevers, severe night sweats,
unexpected weight loss, swollen glands, chronic diarrhoea or rare cancer
• Uncontrolled seizures after infancy
• Hepatitis B or C
• Syphilis
Some Common Reasons For Temporary Deferral
• Cold or sore throat, please wait one week after recovery or treatment
• Tooth extraction or dental work, wait for 3 days after treatment
• Skin infections (minor), wait 1 week after complete healing
• Normal pregnancy, please wait 6 weeks after delivery and when you are not
breast-feeding.
Criteria for Blood Donors
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• Travelled to a malaria endemic area, wait 6 weeks to 3 years and ask the attending
doctor / nurse whether you are eligible for donation
• Close contact with Hepatitis B, wait 12 months and after full course of hepatitis B
vaccination (and shown a satisfactory antibody response)
• Infectious Diseases e.g. Chickenpox, Measles, Dengue, wait 6 months after recovery
• Tattoo, pierced ears, acupuncture and blood transfusions, wait 1 year and inform
the attending doctor/nurse
Medication
People who are taking drugs for cancer treatment, heart diseases, high blood pressure,
diabetes or current infections will not be accepted as blood donors.
At least 2 days
after:
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (3 days)
• Tetanus toxoid vaccination (48 hours)
• Hepatitis B vaccination (48 hours) (48 hours)
• Rabies vaccination (with no exposure) (48 hours)
• Pneumococcus vaccination (48 hours)
• Meningococcus vaccination (48 hours)
At least 1 week
after:
At least 2 weeks
after:
• Chloroquine ingestion
• Antibiotic ingestion
• Typhoid vaccination
• Cholera vaccination
• Diphtheria vaccination
• Influenza (Flu) vaccination
• Pertussis vaccination
• Plague vaccination
• Polio (injection) vaccination
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vaccination
• Typhus vaccination
At least 4 weeks
after:
• Maloprim or Fansidar ingestion
• Mefloquine ingestion
• Rubella (German Measles) vaccination
• Yellow fever, measles, mumps vaccination
• Oral Polio vaccination
• Hepatitis A or combination Hepatitis A and B
At least 1 year
after:
• Other animal or human serum products e.g.
immunoglobulin
• Blood Transfusion
• Hepatitis B immune globulin
• Rabies (post-exposure)
Criteria for Blood Donors
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Travel
The donor will be asked to wait for 6 weeks or more if he / she has travelled to Malaria
endemic areas such as rural areas in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, etc.
Please clarify with the attending nurse or doctor.
Travel to Europe
With effect from 1 July 2002, you will be ineligible to donate blood indefinitely if you fall into
EITHER one of the following 2 groups:
1. You have visited or lived in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland,
Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) from 1980 through 1996 for a
cumulative period of 3 months or more, or you have received a transfusion of blood
or blood components in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland,
the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) between 1980 till now.
2. You have visited or lived in France from 1980 till now for a cumulative period of 5
years or more.
However, if you have stayed in Europe (besides United Kingdom and France) for a
cumulative period of more than 5 years, you can donate plasma only through apheresis
method.
Tattoo, Ear Piercing or Acupuncture
This would require a deferment period of 12 months, unless the needles used are disposable
and the whole procedure is sterile.
Pregnancy and Menstrual Period
• Females should not donate blood during pregnancy.
• They can donate after 6 weeks following a normal delivery and when they are not
breast-feeding.
• Females should not donate blood if they are having heavy menstrual flow or
menstrual cramps.
Criteria for Blood Donors
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The above criteria cover some common situations that will render a prospective
donor unsuitable for blood donation. The doctor or nurse will exercise medical
judgment during the medical interview for each individual donor.
Donors who are interested in donating blood will have to bring along their NRIC or
donation card for registration. Non-Singaporeans will have to produce their
passports.
Criteria for Blood Donors
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