What is the Eligibility & Requirements for Blood Donation?

blood donation criteria — (Source: parashospitals.com)

India can only achieve WHO’s goal of 100% self-sufficiency by more voluntary blood donations. Any healthy individual can donate blood to contribute to this cause. However, there are several rules for blood donation that one should follow in advance.

Keep reading to learn about them.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria to Donate Blood?

Here are the different criteria for donating blood that individuals should follow -

Age Limit

The age limit for blood donation ranges between 18 and 60 years.

Weight Criteria

Your minimum weight for donating blood must be 45 kg.

Health and Physical Criteria

You must be physically fit to be in line with the rules while donating blood.
You cannot donate with any type of flu, cold, sore throat, fever, stomach flu or any type of infection.
If you have a piercing or tattoo on your body, you must wait for 6 months to donate blood.
You must wait for 6 months if you have undergone a rabies treatment or Hepatitis B vaccination.
Haemoglobin level also determines your eligibility for blood donation. You can only donate blood if you have sufficient haemoglobin levels. For India, it must not be lower than 12.5 g/dl.
Your pulse rate must be 50-100/minute
The blood pressure level must be Diastolic 50 - 100 mm Hg and Systolic 100-180 mm Hg.
You must wait for 72 hours if you visit any dentist for any minor procedure. In case of a major procedure, you must wait for 1 month.
24 hours must pass before blood donation if you have had any alcoholic beverage.
It must pass 48 hours after taking any antibiotics or any other medications. It can be allopathic, homoeopathic, or ayurvedic.

Body Temperature

Your body temperature must be normal at the time of the donation.
The temperature of your mouth must not exceed 37.50-degree celsius.

Who Cannot Donate Blood?

Several requirements for blood donation can cause a temporary or permanent deferral.

You cannot donate blood if you have diabetes, chest pain, high blood pressure or heart disease.
You must not donate with a problem of blood clotting or blood disease.
If you have cancer, white patches in the mouth swelling lymph nodes in armpits, groin or neck etc, you cannot donate blood.
Blood donation is also not recommended if you have unexplained fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats.
Women must not donate blood if they are in their menstruation.
According to the rules of blood donation, you cannot donate if you have ever been tested positive for HIV or AIDS.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you will not be allowed to donate blood.

What Are the Things to Consider Before Donating Blood?

There are always some minor things that you must not overlook before donating blood. Below are those things to consider:

You must inform them about your medications or the dosage before donating blood. Most of them do not defer you from donating but may extend the waiting period.
Sometimes, a low level of iron may disqualify you from blood donation. If you donate without informing your low iron level, you may get affected later.
You must keep in mind that blood donation rules for females differ from males. Such as the interval time between 2 donations is longer for females than males.
Even if you passed the donor selection, you must inform them about all your other physical and health conditions.

Rules while donating blood may vary from gender to gender and country to country. However, the above-mentioned points are more or less generic. So, now you can also be eligible to donate blood if you consider those criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Who is not eligible for blood donation in India?

People with HIV, cardiac issues, blood pressure, cancer, hypertension, epilepsy, kidney issues, etc., are deferred from blood donation. Diabetic patients who need insulin to control sugar levels are also deemed ineligible.

✓ What should I eat after donating blood?

You must eat some iron-rich food to balance the lost iron through blood donation. Such foods can be meat, fish, beans, whole grains, and nuts. You also should have vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus fruits and juice to absorb the iron and reduce fatigue.