Organ and Tissue Donation/Transplantation

You May Not Be Able to Donate Blood If You ...

The Food and Drug Administration has determined that you should not donate blood if you:

Are not feeling well
Weigh less than 110 pounds
Have a sore throat, productive cough or sinus congestion due to an infection
Have taken antibiotics in the last 48 hours for an infection
Have gotten a tattoo within the last 12 months
Are less than 17 years of age (The minimum age is 16 in California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana and Washington. There is no upper age limit in most states).
Have visited or lived in Europe for a total of 5 years or more since 1980.
Have visited or lived in the United Kingdom for a total of 3 months or more between 1980 and 1996.
Received a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980.
Were in the military, or a dependent, who spent 6 months or more in a military base in northern Europe between 1980 and 1990, or Southern Europe between 1980 and 1996.

Additionally, the American Red Cross also excludes donors meeting the below criteria:

Spent (visited or lived) accumulative time of 3 months or more in the United Kingdom or accumulative time of 6 months or more in any combination of countries in the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, or Western Europe since January 1, 1980.