All blood collection equipment is single use and sterile; only one blood bag is filled with your donation. See our 'Give blood at work' page for more information. Accept Cookies. In-Depth Discussion of Age and Blood Donation. Welcome to Give Blood online service. © 2021 Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Currently a blood donor? There are minor risks associated with giving blood (including possible bruising, or feeling faint or lightheaded), but our staff will advise you on how to reduce the likelihood of this happening. Prednisolone, Methotrexate). (Each state determines its own age of majority, which can be different for different activities.) If this test is clear, you can come back before 12 months. Ensuring that giving blood is safe for donors and receiving blood is safe for patients. They cover the most common reasons that stop people donating when they go along to give blood. Become a blood donor at scotblood.co.uk. Yes, you can become a blood donor and help others through your donations. If you've had a vaccine as part of a clinical trial you might have to wait longer to donate. Genetic haemochromatosis is a condition where someone may need to be treated by having blood taken ('venesection') to prevent their body from storing too much iron. People who can never give blood. The key to setting up workplace donation sessions is finding out who the right person is within your organisation. Those who DO NOT meet the new guidelines will be unable to give blood for the time being. You will be told if there is a positive result for any of your tests, and we will give you advice. Talk to one of our advisers before coming along to give blood, on 0345 90 90 999. To give blood, you need to weigh over 7st 12lb (50 kg). We will get in touch with you and your clinic to let you know the outcome. If you've had a tattoo or piercing, you'll have to wait for four months before giving blood. The reason you had treatment doesn't stop you giving blood. For most operations, you can give blood once you have fully recovered and all wounds are healed. Visit our donating blood page to learn more about how blood donation works. If your blood pressure medication changes, you'll have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood. You must not donate if you think you need a test for HIV/AIDS, HTLV or Hepatitis. If your blood pressure medication changes you have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood. However, there are a few things to consider. having sex with a partner who is, or you think may be: (men only) oral or anal sex with another man, even if you used a condom or other protection. We aim to retain 6 days of stocks at any time in order to meet the requirements of patients in Scotland. This measure was introduced in 2004 by the UK Blood Transfusion Services. Scotblood.co.uk uses cookies to make the site simpler. These questions will help you check you are able to give blood. If you've had mumps, measles, chickenpox, shingles or German measles, you can give blood provided you've been fully recovered for two weeks or more. Providing you're fit and well, you may be able to give blood while taking regular medication. Dutasteride (Avodart®) Acitretin (Neotigason®), Drugs which suppress the immune system (e.g. You should also check our additional eligibility criteria before giving blood. So who can give blood? Patients with genetic haemochromatosis can become blood donors as long as their iron levels are at an acceptable level. Accept Cookies. Who are they, and what do they do? Whether or not you can donate will depend on the medication you are receiving as well as the condition for which you are being treated. If you have genetic haemochromatosis and would like to give blood, the first thing to do is talk to your doctor or the hospital clinic that looks after you. You can give blood provided you are feeling well and have had no adverse side effects to the vaccination. If you've had a scale and polish, and/or fillings, you can give blood after 24 hours. We currently can’t take blood donations from people who lived in the UK for six months or more from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1996. As long as you have been well, you can give blood four weeks after travel to an affected area. Men who last had oral or anal sex with another man more than three months ago are able to give blood if they meet the other blood donor selection criteria. Check you can give blood. A number of general health restrictions do also apply, specifically regarding symptoms and self-isolation. Scotblood.co.uk uses cookies to make the site simpler. Please run through them before you go along to your donation appointment - it will only take a minute or two. You can also get in touch online. Canadian standards for blood donation dictates that 17 is the earliest age at which you can donate blood. This includes most countries in Africa. You may be able to give blood if a doctor prescribed these drugs. 2. But don't despair... Once you have reached maintenance, many people with genetic haemochromatosis can donate their blood. If you think your results could affect your eligibility to give blood, please get in touch. If you were self-isolating without symptoms, you must wait 14 days after your first day of self-isolation before giving blood. You will have to wait four months after any test involving a flexible scope, even if your results are clear. If you have tested positive for Covid-19 but have been fully recovered and back to normal activities for 28 days or more, you may be suitable to be a Convalescent Plasma donor. You can give blood provided you have no symptoms, even if you're taking antihistamines. Keeping blood safe for patients. When you can donate: Plasma – Straight away; Blood and/or platelets – 4 months after you return we can test your blood for malaria antibodies (proteins that your body makes when fighting a malaria infection). If you are taking antibiotics for your skin, you may still be able to give blood. If you're aged 16, we'd love to take your details. If you would like to discuss any of the above, do not hesitate to get in touch on 0345 90 90 999, If you think your test results could affect your eligibility to give blood, please get in touch on 0345 90 90 999. 'Our team love working with donors and are here to help you in any way. To find out when we're in your area next, go to the homepage and search on … You must wait at least 12 weeks between blood donations. Please ask. You can give blood during the national lockdown. Giving blood takes about an hour, including time for a drink and biscuits. To book an appointment, make an enquiry, sign up as a blood donor or let us know you've become ill after giving blood, call: © 2021 Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. People who are at risk of Chagas can give blood in Scotland provided we’ve done an extra test to check they haven’t been exposed to this condition. We receive excellent support from workplaces across Scotland. When new organisations approach us, we have information and processes in place to make the process as smooth as possible. New donation research and medical evidence has shown that, based on height and weight, young female donors of smaller build (as indicated in the chart) are at an increased risk of fainting following blood donation. ...may have been sexually active in parts of the world where HIV/AIDS is very common. cholesterol screening, smear, mammogram), even if you're still waiting for your results. Registered health care professionals include doctors, dentists, registered nurses, physiotherapists and others. Giving blood by appointment helps us help patients better. If you have had a miscarriage or termination before 12 weeks you may be eligible to give blood. What would you like to tell us about? New donation guidelines have been introduced for female blood donors under 20 years of age, taking account of both height and weight. You can give blood if you have diabetes but do not need insulin treatment. You can give blood in one of our donor centres, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee. You can give blood once your plaster cast has been removed and any wounds have healed. Please get in touch before coming along to give blood. It's safe to give blood. Sign up to give blood Many of Scotland's patients rely on platelets, including cancer and leukaemia patients. Our platelet donation clinics are in Dublin and Cork. If you're over 70 and in good health, you can continue to give blood provided you have made a full donation in the last two years. If you want to donate sooner, we can take a blood sample to test for malaria after four months. Read our latest advice for blood donors You can give blood once the cold sore is dry and healing (scabbed over), as long as there are no wet areas and you don’t have any tingling. If there is a question you do not understand, or would like to discuss eligibility based on your responses, contact 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).This could prevent an unnecessary visit to one of our blood donor centres. Please follow our advice about giving blood when you have high or low blood pressure. Men who have sex with men can now give blood three months after their last sexual activity instead of 12. Please get in touch for more information on, If you are waiting for an operation or another procedure, you may still be able to donate. It's great. Yes. You can give blood provided you have been fully recovered for two weeks or more. Giving blood and platelets is essential to the NHS and vulnerable patients. If you would like to discuss any of the above, get in touch on 0345 90 90 999. All our sessions are now run by appointment. Scotland-based blood donors can register to donate at scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999. It may be possible to give blood after acupuncture. No, you can’t donate blood if you have had cancer. 1,043 talking about this. If you're a new donor, you can start giving blood anytime up to your 66th birthday. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs to your partner. If you were treated by someone who was not a registered health care professional, you'll have to wait four months before giving blood. This includes body building drugs and tanning injections. If you have been in contact with someone with an infectious disease and have never had the disease yourself, you must wait four weeks before giving blood. This is because some blood-borne viruses, such as Hepatitis B, can be spread by unsterile needles. If you have given blood before, even if it was some time ago, you can give blood up until your 70th birthday. Some neurological diseases and disorders, including chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis. We work with a number of other organisations. Caring for blood donors. You have to wait four months after colonic irrigation or hydrotherapy before giving blood. You have ever injected or been injected with drugs; even a long time ago or only once. ...has ever received money or drugs for sex. You can give blood following travel to a WNV area (including North America and some parts of Europe). However, there are some exceptions: You will be unable to give blood while taking the following medications, and for a variable length of time afterwards: Please note the following regarding dentistry: If you have received, or think you may have received, a blood transfusion since 1st January 1980, you will not be able to give blood. Lived in a malaria area for at least six months. You should be in good health to give blood. Make a blood donation appointment with the American Red Cross today. You also have to be recovered from any reaction to the vaccine. You can give blood while using oral or other contraceptive measures. If your blood pressure medication changes, you will have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood. You are in self-isolation with symptoms of possible Covid-19, You are well but are in self-isolation because other household members have symptoms of possible Covid-19, For more information about Covid-19 visit, If you or your mother were born in South or Central America, or if you have ever lived in this region for more than four weeks, please contact us on 0345, If you would like to discuss any of the above, get in touch on. Several viruses are spread by mosquitoes, including Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and Zika. They must also meet the same blood donation rules as any other donor. Once you have reached your 20th birthday, or if your weight increases to meet our criteria before your 20th birthday, please come back to give blood. You can give blood in one of our donor centres, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee. The guidelines say that you can’t donate blood if you have had cancer because there is a theoretical risk that a cancer cell could be passed on in the blood. Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm. We decide when you come along if we need to do an extra test for WNV on your donation. Please check back each time you're preparing to give blood. That way, we know there will always be enough for patients needs. This gives you time to replace the iron normally lost during pregnancy. When you book an appointment we know we can rely on your blood type on that date, making it easier for us to regulate blood stocks. Please. The UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation services have guidelines about who can donate blood. If you're a new donor, you can start giving blood anytime up to your 66th birthday. We really want you to be able to give blood. If you're under 20 years old and over 5’ 6” (168cm) in height, or if you are under 20 years old and over 10st 3lb (65kg) in weight, the changes do not apply to you and you can give blood. You can become a blood donor as soon as you reach your 17th birthday. Those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors (not yet of the age of majority) who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood. Contact us if you're not sure. (women only) sex with a man who has ever had oral or anal sex with another man, even if they used a condom or other protection. You can still travel to donate. If you are determined to be eligible online, you will be able to book your first appointment. Every time you come to give blood we will ask you: whether you were born abroad; whether you have lived or worked abroad for more than six months; and whether you have had any illnesses during or after travel abroad. This does not apply if your own blood was given back to you (autologous transfusion). If you received blood in another country before 1980 please contact us for advice. 3. If you've had the vaccine as part of the UK vaccination programme, you can give blood 7 days after your jab. Travel outside the UK can affect blood donation. Some workplaces allow time off for blood donation, and others organise sessions within their premises. We take great pride in our donor sessions, our team love their jobs and each session is full of amazing blood donors - just like you. A man (if they are male). You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs. So please make sure you tell us about any recent travel outside the UK, each time you give blood. For more complicated dental procedures, you may need to wait longer before giving blood. Before coming to donate, it’s really important you have returned to normal activities, that you have no ongoing Covid-19 symptoms (including tiredness) and are not undergoing tests or follow up. Whether you have a question or comment that is not related to any medical query please enter your details here and we will be happy to help. All donations are tested for infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, HIV, HTLV, and syphilis. The chance of any individual contracting vCJD from a blood transfusion is already very small. It is a confidential questionnaire that helps decide if you are eligible to give blood. If you’re not sure how long it's been since you last gave blood, call us during working hours on 0345 90 90 999, or fill in our online enquiry form and someone will get back to you. It is very important you tell us about your recent travel, if you were ill while abroad, or shortly after you came back. If you're a girl aged 17-19, additional height and weight criteria apply. Complications caused by diabetes may mean you will be unable to give blood. Please contact us on. You should not give blood if you have pain or toothache which could be caused by an infection or dental abscess. We may also test for malaria or West Nile virus. If you have been ill during or shortly after your visit, we'll ask you to wait six months before giving blood. Take our two-minute eligibility quiz to find out if you can donate blood. You can still give blood if you received a blood transfusion in the UK before 1980. If you've had some kind of infection, please wait two weeks from recovery and at least seven days from completing your course of antibiotics. You can usually give blood after taking painkillers. Recruiting, retaining and looking after those who give blood during and after the donation process. Blood donation rules ease for gay and bisexual men - BBC News You may be eligible if your own blood was given back to you (autologous transfusion). This includes body-building drugs and injectable tanning agents. Please read the following information before coming to donate: 1. Please keep donating. Why it's done. If it’s clear, you can resume donating these. If you have been diagnosed with genetic haemochromatosis through family screening but don’t need venesection, you may be able to donate straight away. Please visit the General Health criteria section for more information. Where can I give blood? Find out how you can get involved by becoming a volunteer or peer leader - organizing a high-school blood donation events - by emailing us at feedback@blood.ca or calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Please take sensible precautions when travelling and be assured that we will … We’ll need to check that you can donate. (Each state determines its own age of majority, which can be different for different activities.) From donor centres to school halls, there are places all over the country where you can To book an appointment, make an enquiry, sign up as a blood donor or let us know you've become ill after giving blood, call: Destinations that DO NOT delay blood donation. Insect, bites they cover the most common reasons that stop people donating when they along! Is often fatal our clinical staff will look at this referral and decide you... 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