Whether you have never donated, you were previously deferred, or if your health condition has changed since the last time you gave, you might be wondering if you are eligible to donate blood. For the safety of blood donors and blood donation recipients, there are certain requirements to donate blood that donors must meet.
Are you eligible to donate blood? Find out by checking out these five common blood donation eligibility questions.
${1} How old do you have to be to donate blood?
You must be at least 16 years old to donate blood. Sixteen-year-olds must provide a signed parental or guardian consent form. In North Carolina, 16- and 17-year-olds are required to provide a signed consent form to donate, regardless of your desired donation method — whole blood, double red cells, or platelets. If you’ll be donating at your school, make sure to check with them for any additional requirements.
As far as an age limit, you can never be too old to donate blood! As long as you are in good health and meet all eligibility guidelines, you can donate blood regardless of your age. In fact, many of OneBlood’s regular donors are over the age of 80!