To donate plasma in the United States, you generally need to be at least 18 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and pass a medical screening that includes testing for HIV and hepatitis. Beyond those basics, there are specific health, medication, and lifestyle factors that determine whether you’re eligible on any given day.
Age, Weight, and General Health
The minimum age is 18 at all plasma collection centers. There’s no strict upper age limit, but you do need to be in generally good health at the time of donation. The minimum weight is 110 pounds. This threshold exists because the volume of plasma collected is proportional to body size, and drawing too much from a smaller person could cause problems.
You’ll also need to pass a medical exam and complete a detailed health questionnaire. This happens before your first donation and is updated periodically. The screening covers your medical history, current medications, recent travel, and sexual health.
What They Check at Every Visit
Before each donation, staff will take a set of vitals. The FDA guidelines for source plasma facilities set the following thresholds:
- Temperature: 99.6°F (37.5°C) or lower
- Blood pressure: systolic between 90 and 180, diastolic between 50 and 100
- Pulse: 50 to 100 beats per minute with a regular rhythm
- Hemoglobin: at least 12.5 g/dL (a measure of iron-carrying capacity in your blood)
- Total protein levels: at least 6.0 g/dL
If any of these readings fall outside the acceptable range, you’ll be turned away for that visit. A low hemoglobin reading is one of the most common reasons people get deferred, which is why eating iron-rich foods matters.
Identification You’ll Need
Bring a valid, unexpired photo ID to your first appointment. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, green card, or an employee or student ID with a photo. Many commercial plasma centers also require proof of your Social Security number and proof of your current address, so bring a Social Security card (or a document showing your SSN) along with a piece of mail or utility bill showing where you live.
If you don’t have a photo ID, some facilities accept two secondary forms of identification instead. These can include a birth certificate, Social Security card, bank card, voter registration card, or even a library card with your name on it. Requirements vary between centers, so calling ahead is worthwhile.
How Often You Can Donate
Federal regulations cap plasma donation at twice in any seven-day period, with at least two days between sessions. So if you donate on a Monday, the earliest you can return is Wednesday. Unlike whole blood donation, which requires a wait of eight weeks, plasma replenishes quickly because your red blood cells are returned to you during the process.
Medical Conditions That Affect Eligibility
Some conditions permanently disqualify you from donating. These include HIV infection, hepatitis B or C (even a past positive test), and congenital bleeding disorders.
Other conditions create temporary deferrals. If you have high blood pressure, you can donate once it’s controlled. Anemia disqualifies you only until your levels return to normal. Heart disease requires a medical evaluation, and you need to have been symptom-free for at least six months. After a cancer diagnosis, most people need to be cancer-free for 12 months after completing treatment, though small skin cancers that were fully removed may qualify sooner.
Pregnancy requires a six-week wait after delivery. Recent major surgery is a temporary deferral as well, though the exact timeline depends on the procedure.
Medications That Require a Waiting Period
Many common medications won’t affect your eligibility at all, but certain drug categories require a waiting period after your last dose. Never stop taking a prescribed medication just to qualify for donation.
Blood thinners like warfarin require a seven-day wait, while newer options like apixaban or rivarexaban require two days. The acne medication isotretinoin (commonly known by the former brand name Accutane) requires a one-month deferral. Finasteride, used for hair loss or prostate symptoms, requires six months. Oral HIV prevention medications like PrEP require a three-month wait, while injectable forms like cabotegravir require two years. Certain psoriasis treatments carry a three-year waiting period.
If you’re taking any medication to treat HIV, you are permanently ineligible.
Tattoos, Piercings, and Body Modifications
In most states, a tattoo won’t affect your eligibility as long as it was done at a state-regulated facility using sterile needles and ink that isn’t reused. The same applies to cosmetic tattoos and microblading. If your tattoo was done in a state that doesn’t regulate tattoo shops, you’ll need to wait three months.
Piercings follow similar rules. If single-use, disposable equipment was used, you’re fine. If a reusable piercing gun was involved, or if there’s any doubt about whether the tools were single-use, the wait is three months.
Travel Restrictions
Travel to areas where malaria is common triggers a deferral. If you visited a malaria-risk region, you’ll need to wait three months after returning. If you lived in one of those areas, the wait extends to three years. A malaria diagnosis requires three years after treatment, provided you’ve had no symptoms in that time.
Recent Zika virus infection carries a 120-day deferral from the day symptoms resolve or from your last positive test, whichever is later.
Infectious Disease Testing
Every plasma donation is tested for HIV (both antibodies and antigens), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. These tests happen regardless of your screening answers. If any test comes back positive, you’ll be permanently deferred and notified of the result.
Updated HIV Risk Screening
The FDA revised its donor screening approach in recent years, moving away from blanket deferrals based on sexual orientation. The current guidance uses individual risk-based questions that apply equally to all donors. Instead of asking whether a man has had sex with another man, centers now ask all donors about specific recent behaviors that increase HIV transmission risk. If those behaviors occurred in the past three months, you’ll be temporarily deferred.
How to Prepare for Your Donation
In the 24 hours before your appointment, focus on protein-rich and iron-rich foods while avoiding high-fat meals. Fatty foods can make your plasma appear cloudy, which can cause your donation to be rejected. Drink six to eight cups of water or juice the day before and the day of your donation. Showing up well-hydrated makes the process faster and reduces the chance of feeling lightheaded afterward.
The first visit typically takes longer than subsequent ones because of the initial medical exam and paperwork. Plan for two to three hours your first time. Return visits usually run about 90 minutes, though this varies by center and how quickly your plasma flows.