To donate plasma in the United States, you must be at least 18 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. Beyond those basics, donation centers screen for a long list of medical conditions, medications, recent travel, and lifestyle factors that can temporarily or permanently disqualify you. Here’s what to expect.
Age, Weight, and Identification
The baseline requirements are straightforward. You need to be 18 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. You’ll also need to bring valid identification, though the specific documents accepted vary by facility, so it’s worth calling ahead or checking the center’s website before your first visit.
Health Screening at Every Visit
Each time you show up to donate, the center checks your vital signs and runs a quick blood test. Your hemoglobin level needs to be at least 12.5 g/dL, meaning your blood carries enough oxygen-transporting protein to safely lose some plasma. A hematocrit of at least 38% is the standard minimum. If either number falls short, you’ll be turned away that day but can try again once your levels recover.
Staff will also check your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. If any of those readings fall outside the acceptable range, you’ll be deferred until they normalize.
Medical Conditions That Disqualify You
Some health conditions result in a permanent deferral, meaning you can never donate plasma. These include:
- HIV infection, including anyone who has ever tested positive or taken medication to treat HIV
- Hepatitis B or C, including anyone who has ever tested positive for either virus
- Blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, even if you are currently cancer-free
Temporary deferrals apply to a wider range of situations. If you’ve been treated for malaria or lived in a region where malaria is common, you’ll need to wait three years. A visit to a malaria-endemic area requires a three-month wait. After a blood transfusion in the United States, the waiting period is three months. A Zika virus infection defers you for 120 days after symptoms resolve or after your last positive test, whichever comes later.
Exposure to hepatitis, such as living with someone who has it or being incarcerated for more than 72 hours, triggers a 12-month deferral.
Medications That Require a Waiting Period
Certain medications affect your blood in ways that make your plasma unsafe for recipients. The waiting periods vary widely depending on the drug.
Blood thinners like warfarin require a 7-day wait after your last dose. Newer blood thinners such as apixaban or rivaroxaban have a shorter 2-day deferral. Anti-platelet drugs range from 2 days to a full month depending on the specific medication.
Isotretinoin, the acne medication commonly known by its former brand name Accutane, requires a 1-month wait. Finasteride, used for hair loss or enlarged prostate symptoms, and dutasteride carry a 6-month deferral because these drugs can cause birth defects if plasma containing them reaches a pregnant recipient.
Some deferrals stretch even longer. The psoriasis drug acitretin requires a 3-year wait, and etretinate is a permanent disqualifier. Any experimental medication defers you for 12 months. If you’re taking any prescription medication, bring the name and dosage to your screening appointment so staff can check it against their deferral list.
HIV Risk Assessment
The FDA updated its donor screening guidelines in 2023, replacing the previous policy that deferred men who have sex with men as a blanket category. The current system uses individual risk-based questions for all donors regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Specific activities trigger a 3-month deferral: having a new sexual partner or multiple partners combined with anal sex, sexual contact with someone who has tested positive for HIV, or sexual contact with someone who has used non-prescription injection drugs. Non-prescription injection drug use itself is also a 3-month deferral.
If you’ve taken oral HIV prevention medication (PrEP or PEP), you must wait 3 months after your last dose. Injectable forms of HIV prevention carry a 2-year waiting period because the drug stays in your system much longer.
Tattoos and Piercings
A recent tattoo doesn’t automatically disqualify you. In most states, tattoos done at a state-regulated facility using sterile needles and ink that isn’t reused are immediately acceptable. 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 a similar rule. If single-use, disposable equipment was used, you’re fine. If a reusable piercing gun or instrument was involved, or if there’s any uncertainty about the equipment, the deferral is three months.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
You cannot donate plasma while pregnant. After giving birth, the general recommendation is to wait at least six months. Some centers extend that deferral until you’ve finished breastfeeding, since your body is still directing extra fluids and nutrients toward milk production. Check with your specific center for their policy.
How Often You Can Donate
Federal rules cap plasma donation at twice per 7-day period, with at least two days between sessions. So if you donate on a Monday, the earliest you can return is Wednesday. This schedule allows your body to replenish its plasma volume, which drops by roughly 800 milliliters (about 32 ounces) per donation.
What to Do Before Your Appointment
In the days leading up to your donation, focus on eating protein-rich and iron-rich foods while limiting alcohol and caffeine. On the day itself, eat a healthy meal a few hours beforehand and drink at least 32 ounces of water in the two to three hours before your appointment to help offset the fluid loss. Avoid nicotine within one hour of your scheduled time.
After donating, continue drinking water and eat a small meal or snack to restore your energy. Most people feel fine within a few hours, though some experience mild lightheadedness or fatigue for the rest of the day.