Anyone 18 years or older and over 110 pounds is eligible to give blood. It is necessary to wait at least 8 weeks between blood donations. You will be asked to provide personal identification before you donate. Questions are asked privately about intravenous drug use, HIV test results, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Other questions will be asked about illnesses or medical conditions that might contaminate the blood supply or make blood donation unsafe for you.
All information is confidential.
General health checks are taken for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. A sample of the potential donor's blood is typed and tested for anemia, hepatitis, syphilis, and the AIDS virus. The blood will not be used if tests show that the person may be a carrier for these illnesses or other viruses. Many blood banks have adopted a program for donors who are at risk for AIDS to give blood that is used for research purposes. This blood is not part of the general blood supply for donation to the public.