Blood Donation Restrictions

The American Red Cross currently has the most stringent restrictions on overseas travel and residency. A stay in the UK of more than three months since 1980 is a restriction. Other visits, even in the military that total six month or more to certain countries, or a cumulative of five years will bring a restriction.

Certain lifestyle choices are restricted from donating blood. Those involve high risk sexual practices that may expose the donor to AIDS infection, and therefore the recipient of blood as well. Other things, like alcohol, are just to be curtailed for at least twelve hours before donation.

There are time limit restrictions on blood donation. There is a 56 day cycle for whole blood, and other restrictions for donating platelets or plasma. Some medications cause restrictions.

A potential donor is permanently deferred if they have had parasitical diseases. A restriction that is a temporary deferment might occur due to low hemoglobin or being underweight. Restrictions vary from state to state.