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Patients across the United States depend on plasma protein therapies to treat rare and sometimes chronic diseases. You may donate plasma at
one of the hundreds of licensed and certified plasma collection centers nationwide. COVID-19 Vaccinations? In most cases, you can give plasma after getting a COVID-19 vaccine if you are symptom-free and feeling well at the time of the donation! Ask your donation center for more information. While each center has a specific process, it’s a good idea to do these things before you donate plasma. Ask the donation center if they
want you to do anything else to prepare for your visit. Donor eligibility varies. Check with the facility to determine their specific requirements, but generally plasma donors should: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates plasma collection in the United States. For most people, donating plasma does not cause any side effects, but some donors can experience fatigue, bruising, bleeding, or dehydration. Additionally, you may feel dizzy or lightheaded. While not typical, fainting can also occur. It’s rare, but more serious
infections or reactions can occur, which can be treated. If you experience severe symptoms, contact a doctor immediately. If you experience general side effects, it can help to rest, drink more water, and eat more iron-rich foods. For dizziness or fainting, lie down or sit with your head between your knees. For bleeding, raise your arm, apply pressure, then place a bandage over the area for several hours. Learn about blood
donation too! Donating blood one-time can help save the lives of up to three people. Find out more Have questions about donating plasma? Find answers here:How to Give Plasma
Before Your Donation
During Your Visit
After Your Donation
General Eligibility Requirements
Potential Side Effects
Helpful Resources
Content created by Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)
Content last reviewed March 10, 2022
Your blood volume goes down a little when you donate. It’s important to be well hydrated so that you can feel well after.
On the day before your donation, we recommend:
- 10 glasses of fluid if you are a man
- 8 glasses of fluid if you are a woman
In the three hours before you donate, drink three good-sized glasses of fluid (that’s 750 mL). …
Read MoreYes, as long as there’s no broken skin or local infection around the wart.
Maybe.It depends on the type of surgery and the recovery period.
Upcoming surgery: If you have surgery planned within 84 days (that’s about three months) of your donation, you may need to wait before donating. Please contact us to discuss your eligibility.
Recent surgery: How long you need to wait to give blood after…
Read MoreWe’re glad you’re doing better now. Unfortunately, though, to protect your health you’re not able to donate blood.
Don't be disappointed though, because there are other ways you can help. You can spread the word about how blood saves lives on social media (find us @lifebloodau), register your intent to be an organ donor (if you’re 16 or…
Read MoreIf your spleen was removed due to trauma or physical injury, you can donate six months after you’ve made a full recovery. If you received a blood transfusion as well, you’ll need to wait 12 months after the transfusion.
However, if your spleen was removed to treat a chronic illness such as immune thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP) or lymphoma, you won’t be able to donate blood.
… Read MoreYes, as long as you’re feeling well and the rash is completely clean and dry, you can donate plasma straight away. In fact, the plasma you donate after you recover is full of valuable antibodies (proteins that your body makes to fight infections) that can be used to help people at risk of shingles or chicken pox.
After four weeks, you can…
Read MoreWe can help with regular therapeutic removal of blood (called ‘venesection’) as a treatment, and your doctor may have even referred you to Lifeblood for it. However, your blood can’t be given to patients. Check with your GP if therapeutic venesection is right for you.
Yes, but you can only donate either blood or plasma. At the moment, we don’t know how collecting platelets from people with osteoporosis affects their bone density. That’s why, to protect your health, you won’t be able to donate platelets. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Maybe. It depends on how your condition affects you. Please contact us before you book a donation to check that you can donate.
Unfortunately, no. As the cause of MS is still unknown, we can’t rule out that it’s caused by a transmissible infection (like a virus) that medical science hasn’t discovered yet.
Don't be disappointed though, because there are other ways you can help. You can spread the word about how blood saves lives on social media (find us @lifebloodau), register your intent to be an …
Read MoreNo. Unfortunately, having SLE may affect your body’s ability to tolerate regular blood donation. It’s also possible that regular blood donations could affect the severity of your SLE.
Don't be disappointed though, because there are other ways you can help. You can spread the word about how blood saves lives on social media (find us @lifebloodau), register your intent to be an …
Read MoreYes, as long as your doctor has ruled out any serious ongoing liver disease, you can begin donating blood again. If you have any questions, please contact us.
No. Unfortunately, to protect your health, if you have a history of leukaemia or lymphoma you are unable to donate blood. Don't be disappointed though, because there are other ways you can help. You can spread the word about how blood saves lives on social media (find us @lifebloodau), register your intent to be an organ donor (if you’re 16 or over…
Read MoreMaybe. It depends on the reason for your high iron level and whether it has been investigated by a doctor.
If you have a medical condition such as haemochromatosis, which is one of several causes of a high iron levels, Lifeblood can offer you therapeutic blood collection. It’s the same process as blood donation, but done to reduce the iron in your body by removing blood. Your doctor…
Read MoreYou can donate two weeks after you’ve made a full recovery, but you must stay home while you’re showing any symptoms at all.
Hypoglycaemia means you have low blood sugar. It can occur with the treatment of diabetes. If you have symptoms of hypoglycaemia which aren’t related to diabetes or another serious illness, you can donate as long as you eat a substantial snack two hours before you donate and drink 8 to 10…
Read MoreYes, provided you aren’t suffering a current episode. Any lesions from a recent episode must be clean and dry. You can donate between episodes, though.
If you’ve had contact with someone who has active genital herpes, you’ll be able to donate two weeks after your last contact.
It depends on the type of hepatitis you had.
Hepatitis A and B:
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection (like the hepatitis A or B viruses) or an unknown cause. You need to wait at least 12 months after you’ve made a full recovery before you donate blood. When you come in, make sure you notify the interviewer so they can request some…
Read MoreIf you've had helicobacter pylori infection (stomach ulcer), you can donate five days after you’ve completed treatment and have no symptoms. However, if you’ve had an endoscopy, you might need to wait a bit longer. See the endoscopy FAQ…
Maybe. It depends on the type of heart condition you have (and as long as you meet our other criteria). For the following conditions, please contact us to check.
Angina: You may be able to donate if you have had no symptoms for at least 6 months.
Arrhythmia: There are a lot of different forms of arrhythmia, and…
Read MoreYes. You can donate blood two weeks after you have fully recovered from glandular fever.
If you had ‘yellow jaundice' or hepatitis associated with glandular fever, you won’t be able to donate for 12 months. When you donate again, make sure you let the interviewer know so they can request some extra tests, just to be safe.
If you’ve had contact with the saliva of someone who…
Read MoreYes. The flu vaccine (both seasonal flu and H1N1 or 'swine' flu) is made from 'dead’ (inactivated/recombinant) material, so it doesn’t affect your ability to donate.
Yes, provided you are well, and in the last 12 months have not had any symptoms or required any medication.
Yes, as long as you haven’t had a seizure for at least three years. In some cases, we need a letter of approval from your doctor, so contact us if you have any questions.
Yes, but not right away. After an endoscopy (colonoscopy, gastroscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy) where a sample (biopsy) was taken or polyp removed, you’ll need to wait seven days before donating, unless the procedure was performed overseas (you’ll need to wait four months if it was). You must also be feeling well after the procedure and any results must be normal.
If no sample (biopsy…
Read MoreYes, provided that the rash isn’t inflamed or weeping and doesn’t affect the inner surface of your elbow where we take blood.
Yes, but not until eight weeks after contact. If you’ve visited a country where there is Ebola, please look up the country on our travel page for more information.
Maybe, it depends on the treatment, whether you have had any recurrence of the thrombosis and any possible underlying cause. It’s best if you contact us to find out.
Depending on the cause of the diarrhoea, you’ll need to wait between one and four weeks after recovering. Check with us about your symptoms and eligibility by contacting us.
Yes, as long as you have no complications from your diabetes, such as eye, heart, blood vessel or kidney problems, and your diabetes is well controlled through diet or oral medication. If you need insulin to control your diabetes, contact us to check your eligibility.
Maybe, it depends on the type of treatment.
Simple treatments (cleaning, fillings and braces):
For the first 24 hours after seeing the dentist you can only give plasma. After 24 hours, provided you’re well, you can donate blood or platelets too.
Extractions, crowns, root canals:
You can donate seven days after having an…
Read MoreYes, but you need to wait at least four months after you recover before donating.
Unfortunately, no. Having cystic fibrosis usually results in recurrent chest infections and nutritional problems including anaemia. For your safety, you won’t be able to donate.
Don't be disappointed though, because there are other ways you can help. You can spread the word about how blood saves lives on social media (find us @lifebloodau), register your intent to be an…
Read MoreGenerally, no. Donors with a family member who has or has had classical Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (cCJD) usually can’t donate, but it may be possible based on an assessment of your situation. Please contact us to talk about your eligibility to donate. This only applies to classical CJD, not variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob…
Read MoreWe ask that you don’t donate until one week after you’re fully recovered and feeling fit and well. Even if you’re only experiencing mild symptoms, like a runny nose, please stay home to rest and recover.
Yes, if you aren’t suffering a current episode. Any cold sores from a previous episode must be clean and dry.
Unfortunately, no. Because we don’t know the cause of this serious, debilitating disease, we can’t rule out that it’s caused by a transmissible infection that medical science hasn’t discovered yet. We also don’t know the potential health effects of long-term blood donation on people who have suffered chronic fatigue syndrome.
That means if you have a past history of this disease you…
Read MoreYes, you’ll just need to wait two weeks and five days after completing treatment.
You can donate plasma as soon as you’ve recovered but you’ll need to wait four weeks before you can give blood. You’re recovered when all your spots are completely clean and dry and you’re feeling well. Your plasma can provide valuable antibodies (blood proteins your body makes to fight infections) for people at risk of chicken pox.
If you…
Read MoreUsually, yes, but it depends on how your cerebral palsy affects you. If you’re generally fit, able to move freely on and off a donation couch without assistance, and there’s no difficulty accessing the veins at your elbow, you should be able to donate. Please contact us to talk to us about whether you can donate.
Yes. In most cases, you can donate if you remain free of cancer five years after completing treatment. This is to protect your own health by ensuring, as far as possible, that the cancer is gone and won’t recur. Five years is the period most often used by doctors to define a cancer as presumed 'cured'.
For some cancers (or pre-cancers) of the skin, carcinoma in situ (CIN and CIS) of…
Read MoreYes. You’ll just need to wait 12 months after you received the transfusion before you donate. If you received only autologous blood (you donated blood before a procedure and were transfused with your own blood), then you can donate sooner. You’ll just need a letter from your doctor.
Maybe. It can depend on the type of bleeding and blood disorder, and may be based on your individual circumstances. Please contact us to give us more information and learn if you can donate.
Yes, but certain medications, recent surgery or surgery planned in the near future may mean you need to wait a bit. If you’re taking medications for this condition, please contact us to speak to a medical professional about it.
Maybe. It depends how low your iron is.
Your body uses iron to produce haemoglobin, which is a protein that transports oxygen around your body. If you’re low in iron, your body will take longer to produce haemoglobin. Then, if your haemoglobin level is below the normal range (known as anaemia), you might experience breathlessness and dizziness.
We need iron for our general…
Read MoreYes, if you have mild allergies you can donate blood, even when taking antihistamines for treatment. However, there are times when you may not be able to donate.
You may not be able to donate if you:
- have an allergy to a substance we use in the blood donation process
- have a severe allergy, or
- are unwell at the time of donation due to your…
Yes, if the acupuncture was performed by either an acupuncturist or health practitioner who is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), you can donate plasma only in the first 24 hours after treatment. This also applies for other acupuncture carried out using sterile, single-use, disposable needles. After 24…
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