Donor Eligibility

Marsh Regional Blood Center does have a few eligibility requirements that you must meet to qualify for blood donation. But don’t worry! Even those who don’t currently qualify can still assist us in our goal of saving lives in our region.

Can I donate blood?

To donate blood with Marsh, you must:

Be at least 17 years old
Weigh at least 110 pounds or more
Eat a well-balanced meal within four to six hours of your donation
Be in generally good health on the day that you donate

If you currently have a cold, sore throat, fever, flu, fever blisters or are taking antibiotics, you won’t be able to donate. If you’ve recently recovered from COVID-19, you may be eligible to donate convalescent plasma.

Find answers to the most common blood donation questions we hear, and learn what the benefits of giving blood are.

Can I donate blood if I’m 16 years old?

Due to the reactions to giving blood that some younger donors can have, Marsh’s procedures currently only allow those who are at least 17 years old to donate blood.

Can I donate blood if I’m a high school student?

Absolutely! About one-third of our region’s blood supply comes from high school students. Marsh Regional Blood Center works with high schools all across the Highlands community.

We also offer incentives – like honors and scholarships – for high school students who give blood.

Can I donate blood if I’m LGBTQ+?

We’re proud to welcome donors from the LGBTQ+ community. Marsh Regional Blood Center does not believe that any donor should be discriminated against based upon sexual orientation or gender identity. We’re working hard to keep this at the forefront of our decisions moving forward.

Before you donate

Before a donation can occur at Marsh Regional Blood Center, potential donors must take part in a health questionnaire. The questionnaire does include questions about sexual behaviors, but never includes questions about sexual orientation.

Men who have sex with men

As per FDA guidelines, men who have sex with other men cannot donate blood within three months of sexual contact. We want to be sensitive and inclusive of our LGBTQ+ community, and we are working with our local donors to make the donation process as comfortable as possible. However, we must abide by federal policy and guidelines, and we will continue to support the FDA’s decision to evolve standards to better meet the needs of diverse communities once new data is available and fully studied.

Women who have sex with women

Women who have sex with other women only need to meet our general eligibility requirements when giving blood.

Transgender donors

Marsh Regional Blood Center understands the difference between sex and gender, and we’re always working to revise our standards to better meet the needs of our diverse community. Currently, our procedure requires that donors state their sex assigned at birth during the health questionnaire. We understand that some donors do not identify their current gender with their birth sex. As with all of our policies, this rule is put in place to create the safest possible environment for donors. Sex is extremely important in selecting particular products and additional testing to produce a safe unit for transfusion. We’re working with our local LGBTQ+ donors to make our donation process as inclusive and comfortable as possible. Marsh Regional Blood Center is always striving to improve our process to make blood donation welcoming to all donors.

Non-binary (GNC) donors

At Marsh Regional Blood Center, we welcome all possible donors with open arms. We do understand that selecting either male or female during our questionnaire does not always align with how someone identifies. However, federal guidelines require that all donors must indicate either male or female before donating blood.

Asexual donors

Asexual donors only need to meet our general eligibility requirements when giving blood.

When should I NOT donate blood?

You shouldn’t give blood if any of these statements apply to you:

I’m currently taking an antibiotic for an infection or have taken an antibiotic in the past seven days.
I haven’t eaten a well-balanced and substantial meal within four to six hours of my donation.
I have a history of hepatitis, heart disease or most cancers within the last five years.
I’ve had a blood transfusion or accidental needle stick within the past 12 months.
I’ve gotten a tattoo less than three months ago.
I’ve had major surgery in the past six months or pregnancy within the past six weeks.
I’ve tested positive for HIV.
I’ve had sex with someone who tested positive for HIV in the past 12 months.
I’ve used illegal IV drugs or had sex with someone who has in the past 12 months.
I’ve received or given money, drugs or any other payment for sex.
I’m a man who had sexual contact with another man in the past three months.
I’m a woman who had sexual contact with a man who had sexual contact with another man in the past three months.

I’m not eligible – how can I help?

Even those that aren’t currently eligible to donate blood can still help save local lives! You can host a blood drive with your organization, donate to our scholarship program or simply encourage others in your life to give blood.

We’re always working to better our community by working together. You can always help us met this goal, regardless of eligibility.