Blood Donation Guidelines

Donate Blood. Save Lives.

Can you donate blood or platelets? How should you prepare before a blood or platelet donation and what care do you need after a blood donation. All in one place. 

Eligibilities for Blood Donor

• Any donor, who is healthy, fit and not suffering from any transmittable diseases can donate blood.
• Donor must be 18-60 years age and having a minimum weight of 50Kg can donate blood. (Some blood banks take over a weight of 45Kg too)
• Donor’s Haemoglobin level is 12.5% minimum.
• A donor can again donate blood after 3 months of your last donation of blood.
• Pulse rate must be between 50 to 100mm without any irregularities.
• BP Diastolic 50 to 100 mm Hg and Systolic 100 to 180 mm Hg.
• Body temperature should be normal and oral temperature should not exceed 37.5 degree Celsius.
• Eligibility for platelet donation is same as blood with one addition that donor's count should be no less than 1.5lakhs/ml

Non-Eligibilities

• Donors should not suffer from cardiac arrest, hypertension, kidney alignments, epilepsy or diabetes. (Some blood banks allow people with diabetes to donate blood if the blood sugar level is under control and they are not on insulin. Read the discussion on blood donation )
• Ladies with a bad miscarriage should avoid donating blood for the next 6 months.
• If the donor has already donated blood or has been treated for malaria within the last three months.
• If donor has undergone any immunization within the past one month.
• If you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, the National Blood Transfusion Council mandates a 28 day period after vaccination.
• If donor has consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours.
• If you are HIV+.
• If donor had a dental work in the last 24 hours and wait for one month if donor had a major dental procedure.

Preparation before blood donation

• Prepare yourself by having enough fruit juice and water in the night and morning before you donate blood.
• Avoid donating blood on an empty stomach. Eat three hours before you donate blood. Avoid fatty foods. Eat food which is rich in iron such as whole grains, eggs, and beef, and spinach, leafy vegetables, orange and citrus.
• Don’t consume alcohol or caffeine beverages before donating blood.
• Avoid donating blood for 6 months if you had any major surgery.
• If you are donating platelets, avoid fried /fatty foods 48 hours before donation

Post Donation Care

1. Have some rest 5 to 20 minutes after donation. Do not drive after donation of blood.
2. Have some snacks and juice with high sugar content which will help to rejuvenate the blood sugar back up.
3. Have a good meal with high protein content such as chicken, beef etc,.
4. Do not consume alcohol for 8 hours after donation of blood.
5. Avoid going for a heavy body works such as gym, dancing, running etc at least for next one day.

(Sourced from Indian Blood Bank. COVID update on 04-04-2021)