If you have ever wanted to donate blood but didn’t know if you could do it, below we are going to detail some requirements, which are those established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be able to carry out this practice.
Age to donate blood
The usual thing is that it is established that it is from 18 to 65 years. Although it is true that there are exceptions:
- National legislation in some countries allows young people aged 16 to 17, provided they meet the required physical criteria and appropriate consent is obtained.
- Also in some countries, regular donors over 65 years of age may be at the doctor’s discretion. The upper age limit is 60 years in some countries.
Weight
You must weigh at least 50 kilos. In some countries, whole blood donors must weigh at least 45 kg to donate 350 ml ± 10%.
Health to donate blood
At the time of donating blood you must be in good health. You will not be able to if you have a cold, flu, mouth ulcers, sore throat, gastric infection or any other infection.
You will also not be able to donate blood if you have had a piercing or having gotten a tattoo 6 months before. If the piercing was performed by a registered healthcare professional and the inflammation has completely disappeared, you can donate blood after 12 hours.
After a minor dental procedure you have to wait, you have to wait 24 hours to donate and if it is a major dental procedure you would have to wait a month.
If you have the minimum hemoglobinemia required for donation, you should not donate blood. This test is carried out at the place where the donation is made.
Behaviors
If you have had “risky” sexual activities in the last 12 months, you should not proceed with this practice. Likewise, the donation will be permanently suspended for people who have ever:
- They have tested positive for HIV (AIDS virus).
- They have injected drugs.
Donate blood during pregnancy and breastfeeding
After childbirth, the deferral period for donation must last as many months as the pregnancy. It is also not advisable to donate blood during breastfeeding and, after breastfeeding, you must wait until 3 months after the infant has been largely weaned.