You are here Show Yes, you can donate blood if you have tattoosIf you got a tattoo in the last three months, it is completely healed, and was applied by a state-regulated facility, which uses sterile needles and fresh ink—and you meet all donor eligibility requirements—you can donate blood! The same rules also apply to ear and body peircings. Remember, tattoos also include tattoo “touch ups” and permanent cosmetic tattoos. Did you know that California is a state that regulates tattoo shops? That means once healed, you are able to donate as long as you meet all the other basic donor requirements. States that do not regulate tattoo parlors: • Connecticut • Georgia • Idaho • Maryland • Nevada You need to wait 3 months after getting a tattoo in any of the above states or outside the United States. Set a calendar reminder to donate blood after your 3-month deferral period. Got Tattoos? Inked up and want to save lives?Make an appointmentto donate blood today! If you have any questions or for more information, please call our donor specialists at (619) 400-8251. You can view the updated donor eligibility criteria based on FDA regulations here. This blog was updated 10.22.2021 Most people can give blood if they are in good health. There are some basic requirements one need to fulfill in order to become a blood donor. Below are some basic eligibility guidelines: AgeYou are aged between 18 and 65.
WeightYou weigh at least 50 kg.
HealthYou must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection. If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure. If the body piercing was performed by a registered health professional and any inflammation has settled completely, you can donate blood after 12 hours. If you have visited the dentist for a minor procedure you must wait 24 hours before donating; for major work wait a month. You must not donate blood If you do not meet the minimum haemoglobin level for blood donation:
TravelTravel to areas where mosquito-borne infections are endemic, e.g. malaria, dengue and Zika virus infections, may result in a temporary deferral. Many countries also implemented the policy to defer blood donors with a history of travel or residence for defined cumulative exposure periods in specified countries or areas, as a measure to reduce the risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) by blood transfusion. BehavioursYou must not give blood:
In the national blood donor selection guidelines, there are more behavior eligibility criteria. Criteria could be different in different countries. Pregnancy and breastfeedingFollowing pregnancy, the deferral period should last as many months as the duration of the pregnancy. It is not advisable to donate blood while breast-feeding. Following childbirth, the deferral period is at least 9 months (as for pregnancy) and until 3 months after your baby is significantly weaned (i.e. getting most of his/her nutrition from solids or bottle feeding). More information on eligibility to donateNational eligibility guidelines must be followed when people donate blood in the blood service in specific countries. To find out whether any health conditions, medications, professions or travel history to could affect your ability to give blood, please search for detailed information in the national/local blood services. Can I donate blood after getting a tattoo?If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure. If the body piercing was performed by a registered health professional and any inflammation has settled completely, you can donate blood after 12 hours.
Why can't you donate blood after a tattoo?You may not be able to donate if your ink is less than 3 months old. Giving blood after recently getting a tattoo can be dangerous. Though uncommon, an unclean tattoo needle can carry a number of bloodborne viruses, such as: hepatitis B.
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