American Red Cross Blood Services Southern California Region requires volunteer blood donors to be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Other states have different age requirements so check with your drive sponsor.  However, some people may be temporarily or permanently deferred from donating blood. Some reasons for indefinite or temporary deferrals are listed below.

Indefinite Deferrals

• Persons who had viral hepatitis on or after age 11.
• Persons who are at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, such as:
  - Males who had sex with another male, even once, since 1977
  - Persons who have injected street drugs, (including steroids) even once
  - Persons who have received clotting factor concentrates
  - Persons who have exchanged sex for drugs or money since 1977
  - Persons who have tested positive for HIV (the virus that causes AIDS)
• Persons who have AIDS or one of its symptoms.
• Anyone who spent three or more cumulative months in the United Kingdom (U.K.) from the beginning of 1980 through the end of 1996.
• Anyone who spent five or more cumulative years in Europe from 1980 to the present.
• Any person who spent a total of six months on or associated with a military base in
  - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany from 1980 through 1990
  - Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece from 1980 to 1996
• Anyone who received a blood transfusion in the U.K. between 1980 and the present.

Temporary Deferrals

• Persons who have visited a malarial endemic area within the past 12 months.
• Persons who had malaria within the past three years.
• Persons who have been tattooed in the past 12 months in California or in another state that does not regulate tattoo facilities.
• Persons who had their body pierced in the past 12 months without using sterile, single use needles.
• Persons who have been exposed to someone with hepatitis within the past 12 months.
• Persons who have received blood, plasma or other blood components within the past 12 months.
• Women who are pregnant, or women who have given birth or had a third trimester miscarriage or abortion within the past six weeks.
• Persons who had surgical removal of cancer or radiation/ chemotherapy treatment for cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) within the past five years.
• Persons who had a heart attack within the past six months.
• Persons who had epileptic seizures within the past three months.
• Persons who had coronary bypass surgery within the last six months, or persons who have not fully recovered from the surgery or are still taking cardiovascular medication, even after six months.
• Persons who have been treated for syphilis or gonorrhea within the past 12 months.
• Persons who had sex with anyone at high risk for HIV or AIDS within the past 12 months.
• Persons who are currently taking antibiotics for treatment of an acute or chronic bacterial infection (if you have already taken your last dose at the time of donation and have no symptoms you CAN donate.
• Persons not feeling well on the day of the donation (e.g. cold, flu, etc.)