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Blood Donation Requirements

You may be wondering if you can donate blood. Donating blood is safe and easy to do, but there are a few basic requirements to donate blood.

Why are there requirements to donate blood? Eligibility requirements are important to help ensure the safety of both the blood donor and blood recipient.

Blood donations save lives every day, and donors are needed every day.About 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate at any one time but only 3 percent do so.

Requirements & Recommendations

  • Must be at least 16 years old
  • Weigh at least 110 pounds
  • Be in good general health
  • Bring your ID
  • Eat within 2 hours ahead of your donation
  • Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids
  • Wait eight weeks between whole blood donations

Basic Eligibility

Basic eligibility requirements for blood donation.
  • Must be at least 16 years old (16- and some 17-year-olds must bring a signed permission form from a parent or guardian, if required by state or school).
  • Weigh at least 110 pounds. Certain height/weight criteria may apply for donors 22 years old or younger. For specific requirements in your area, please call 877-258-4825.
  • Be in good general health.
  • For your safety and to ensure a positive donation experience, make sure you eat within two hours ahead of your donation. Drink plenty of water that day and 24 to 48 hours beforehand. Feel free to help yourself to something to eat and drink in our refreshment area.
  • Bring your ID—something with your name and one of the following: date of birth, donor ID number or your photo.
  • You must wait eight weeks between whole blood donations. Learn more about specific intervals for other types of donation.
  • You should not be under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs at the time of donation.


Additional requirements for platelet and Power Red donation.

Platelet donors should avoid aspirin and/or aspirin-containing products 48 hours prior to donation and other anti-platelet medications.



Requirements for source plasma.

Unlike plasma that is donated specifically for patient transfusion, source plasma is collected and used to develop lifesaving medicines and therapies for patients with neurological disorders, immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders and more. Currently, Vitalant only offers voluntary source plasma donation opportunities to people who live in the Sacramento area.