Are You Eligible?

The American Red Cross asks each prospective blood donor questions about his or her health history. The health history is performed for the safety of blood donors and the patients who receive blood.

Your eligibility to give blood depends, among other factors, on your medical condition and past behaviors. Any person in general good health who is at least 17 years old and weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood. Whole blood donors can safely donate blood every 56 days. Double red cell donors can safely donate blood every 112 days.

Use the Eligibility Calculator

In New York State and Pennsylvania, 16 year olds are eligible to donate blood provided they have an original signed or faxed copy of the New York State Informed Parental Permission for a 16-Year-Old to Donate Whole Blood. To obtain a copy of this form, please click here.

While the following list includes some of the more frequent questions about blood donor eligibility, it would be difficult to include a complete listing here. To find out more about eligibility requirements prior to donating blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

If you are a member of the media please call 1-800-756-1196 for more details about eligibility.

To help determine your eligibility based on a medical condition, click the condition below. A window will appear that provides a basic estimation of your eligibility. You can also view the Donor Eligibility Guide PDF file by clicking here.