Most healthy adults who are at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds can donate plasma. Beyond those basics, eligibility depends on your medical history, any medications you take, recent tattoos or piercings, and a screening you’ll complete at the donation center. Here’s what to check before you go.
Basic Requirements
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services lists three core criteria: you need to be 18 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and pass a medical exam that includes testing negative for hepatitis and HIV. That medical screening happens at the donation center on your first visit, so you don’t need lab results in hand beforehand.
You’ll also need to bring identification. A valid photo ID with your current address (like a driver’s license) is the simplest option. If your ID doesn’t show your address, you can bring a recent utility bill, a paycheck stub, a W-2, or a copy of your current lease. You’ll need your Social Security card or number verification from your local SSI office. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, a Border Crossing Card (B1/B2 visa) can work in place of other documentation.
Conditions That Disqualify You
A few medical conditions are permanent disqualifiers. You cannot donate plasma if you have HIV, hepatitis B or C, sickle cell disease, or a history of leukemia or lymphoma. These are absolute, with no waiting period that would eventually make you eligible.
Other conditions are more nuanced. Diabetes, for example, does not disqualify you as long as it’s well controlled through diet, oral medication, or insulin. Heart disease and a history of heart attack may or may not be disqualifying depending on your specific situation, so you’d need to check directly with the donation center. Cancer types other than leukemia and lymphoma are evaluated on a case-by-case basis as well.
Medications That Require a Wait
Many common medications trigger a temporary deferral, meaning you can donate once you’ve been off the medication for a set period. The waiting times vary widely depending on the drug and why you’re taking it.
- Acne treatments containing isotretinoin (like Accutane): 1 month after your last dose
- Blood thinners like warfarin: 7 days. Newer blood thinners like rivaroxaban or apixaban: 2 days
- Hair loss or prostate medications containing finasteride: 1 month for the lower-dose version, 6 months for the higher-dose version or dutasteride
- Oral HIV prevention (PrEP/PEP): 3 months after stopping
- Injectable HIV prevention: 2 years after your last injection
- Psoriasis medication acitretin: 3 years
Some medications result in a permanent deferral. These include any antiretroviral therapy used to treat HIV, thalidomide and lenalidomide (used for multiple myeloma), and certain other specialty drugs. If you take any prescription medication, mention it during your screening. The staff will have a detailed deferral list and can tell you exactly where you stand.
Tattoos and Piercings
A tattoo doesn’t automatically disqualify you. In most states, if the tattoo was done at a state-regulated facility using sterile, single-use needles and ink that isn’t reused, you can donate with no waiting period. The same applies to cosmetic tattoos like microbladed eyebrows, as long as they were done at a licensed establishment. If your tattoo was done in a state that doesn’t regulate tattoo facilities, you’ll need to wait three months.
Piercings follow similar logic. If the piercing was done with single-use, disposable equipment, you’re eligible right away. If a reusable piercing gun or instrument was used, or if you’re unsure, you’ll need to wait three months.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
You cannot donate plasma while pregnant. After giving birth, the standard waiting period is six months before you’re eligible again. This applies whether the pregnancy ended in delivery or miscarriage. The wait exists because pregnancy causes significant changes in blood volume and protein levels, and your body needs time to fully recover.
Updated HIV Screening Rules
The FDA updated its donor screening guidelines to replace the older policy that deferred men who have sex with men for a set period. The current approach uses individual risk-based questions for all donors regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Screening now focuses on specific recent behaviors, like having a new sexual partner or multiple partners in the past three months, rather than blanket deferrals based on identity. This means many people who were previously turned away are now eligible.
How Often You Can Donate
Federal guidelines allow plasma donation up to twice in a seven-day period, with at least two days between donations. So if you donate on a Monday, the earliest you could return is Wednesday. Most commercial plasma centers follow this schedule, and many donors settle into a routine of donating twice a week. Unlike whole blood donation, which requires a wait of eight weeks between donations, plasma replenishes much faster because your red blood cells are returned to you during the process.
What Happens at Your First Visit
Your first appointment takes longer than future ones, often two to three hours. You’ll fill out a detailed health questionnaire covering your medical history, travel, medications, and sexual health. A staff member will check your vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and take a small blood sample to measure your protein and hemoglobin levels. If everything checks out, you’ll proceed to donate that same day.
To prepare, drink plenty of water in the hours beforehand and eat a meal that includes protein. Dehydration and low protein levels are two of the most common reasons people fail the screening on their first try, and both are easy to avoid. Bring all the required documents so you don’t have to make a second trip just for paperwork.