Giving Blood Get Involved For Hospitals About Us Contact Us TAP HERE TO FIND A BLOOD DRIVE LOGIN GIVING BLOOD Donor FAQs ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS DONATION PROCESS QUESTIONS POST-DONATION QUESTIONS IRON INFORMATION COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING Eligibility Questions What age and weight do you have to be to donate blood? Donors must be at least 17 years old (16-year-olds may donate with written parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit to donate blood. Can I donate if I weigh less than 110 lbs. and give less than one pint of blood? Can I donate if I have a tattoo? Can I donate if I have a piercing? Can I donate if I'm pregnant? Can I donate if I have diabetes? Can I donate if I'm sick? Can I donate if I have low iron? Can I donate if I have/had mononucleosis? Can I donate if I have cancer? Can I donate if I have traveled recently? Can I donate with high blood pressure? Can I donate if I have received the COVID-19 Vaccine? Are there any medications that prevent me from donating? Donation Process Questions Should I eat before donating? What credentials do I need to donate blood? What can I expect when donating whole blood? Does it hurt to donate blood? Can I get AIDS or HIV from donating? How often can I donate blood or platelets? Will I feel faint? What are the different components that are taken from blood? Post-Donation Questions Will I be notified if I test positive for a disease? What is an antibody? If I'm notified that I have a positive antibody screen, should I do anything further? What is an antigen? What does it mean if I have a positive antibody screen? Can my blood still be used if I test positive for antibodies? What type of tests are performed on my blood? Iron Information What does low hemoglobin mean? When can I donate again? COVID-19 Antibody Testing What is the COVID-19 antibody test? What does it mean if I receive a REACTIVE or positive test result? If I receive a REACTIVE or positive test result, am I immune to COVID-19? What does it mean if I receive a NON-REACTIVE or negative test result? What is convalescent plasma? Can I donate convalescent plasma if I’ve received the COVID19 vaccine? What if I have questions about my COVID-19 antibody test results? 4039 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 888-795-2707 beau@lifesouth.org Privacy Policy Sitemap Careers Current Employees Blog Request Donor ID Card Contact Us ©2021 LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. All rights reserved. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All Cookies