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.

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! Much of our region’s blood supply comes from high school students. Marsh Regional Blood Center works with high schools all across our 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 follow FDA guidelines for blood donation.

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 of May 11, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration updated its guidance to eliminate time-based blood donor deferral periods for men who have sex with men and for women who have sex with MSM. The final recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility will be included in a set of individual risk-based questions given to every donor regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender.

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 while following FDA guidelines.

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.
I have a history of certain cancers within the last 5 years.
I’ve had a blood transfusion or an accidental needle stick within the past 12 months.
I’ve gotten a tattoo in the past month.
I’ve not been released from my doctor after major surgery.
I have been pregnant within the past six weeks.
I’ve tested positive for HIV.
I’ve had sex with someone in the past 3 months with someone who tested positive for HIV.
I’ve used illegal IV drugs or had sex with someone who has in the past 3 months.
I’ve received or given money, drugs or any other payment for sex within the past 3 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.