What Are The Requirements For Donating Blood?

To donate blood in 2025, you must be in good health, be between 18 and 65 years old, weigh more than 50 kg, and meet a list of important requirements. 

Donating blood is a voluntary act that can help save lives, but not everyone is eligible. The criteria for eligibility vary by country, although there are general guidelines based on age, weight, health status, and other relevant factors.

Health authorities recommend that citizens carefully check whether they meet these requirements before visiting a donation center.

General requirements: age and weight

Generally speaking, people between the ages of 18 and 65 who are in good health can donate blood.

Some countries allow young people between the ages of 16 and 17 to participate, provided they are legally authorized and meet the required medical criteria. Regarding weight, the minimum weight limit for donating whole blood is usually 50 kilograms.

However, some systems allow donations starting at 45 kilograms, especially if smaller volumes (approximately 350 milliliters) are collected. These measures are designed to protect both the donor and the recipient.

Health status at the time of donation

Blood donation is only permitted if the individual is in good physical condition. Donating blood is not permitted if you have the flu, fever, oral or stomach infections, or other temporary conditions.

Those who have recently undergone dental procedures are also temporarily excluded, with a minimum wait of 24 hours for minor treatments and at least one month for more complex interventions.

If you have received a tattoo or piercing, the deferral for donating blood can be extended up to six months.

This wait can be reduced to 12 hours if the procedure is performed by a certified healthcare professional and there is no inflammation present.

In addition, a hemoglobin test is performed before donation to ensure that the donor does not have anemia.

In most countries, the minimum acceptable levels are 12.0 grams per deciliter for women and 13.0 grams per deciliter for men.

Travel and exhibition restrictions

People who have recently traveled to regions with endemic mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, malaria, or Zika, may be temporarily unable to donate.

Some countries also establish exclusion periods related to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, depending on the length of stay in at-risk areas.

Behavior and medical history

There are exclusion criteria linked to the donor’s behavior. Those who have engaged in sexual practices considered high-risk in the last 12 months or have been diagnosed with HIV are not eligible to donate.

The same applies to people who have ever injected illicit drugs. National regulations may also provide for other specific restrictions based on individual behavior.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Blood donation is not permitted during pregnancy, and after childbirth, a person must wait at least nine months to donate again.

If the mother continues to breastfeed, she should wait until the baby has been mostly weaned and at least three additional months have passed.

Each country has specific regulations regarding eligibility to donate blood, so it is recommended that you check with your local blood bank or national health services before presenting yourself as a donor.

Pre-procedure medical evaluation is essential to ensure that both donor and recipient are protected.

Donating blood is an activity of high social value, but it must be done under optimal health conditions and with full responsibility.

Meeting these requirements ensures process safety and contributes to maintaining a stable and reliable supply of blood products to hospitals.