For our donors and guests: Masks are required where mandated by local jurisdiction or blood drive site. Per CDC guidance, masks are otherwise not required for those fully vaccinated. If you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, you are eligible to donate blood, platelets or plasma. Read our COVID-19 FAQs.

Welcome, Donor!

Blood Donation Eligibility

You may be wondering if you can donate blood. Donating blood is safe and easy to do. If you're in good health and meet the general eligibility criteria, then you are likely able to give blood. If you meet all eligibility criteria below, please to transform the lives of patients in need. If you've got a tattoo, traveled abroad or take medications and wonder if these affect your eligibility, please review how these might impact your eligibility.

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or participated in a COVID-19 vaccine trial:

  • You ARE eligible to donate blood or platelets if you meet all general blood donation eligibility criteria.
  • Your plasma can be manufactured into COVID-19 convalescent plasma by Vitalant if you meet other FDA requirements for convalescent plasma, including: 
    • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 via swab test and had symptoms.
    • Vaccine was administered after diagnosis.
    • Blood donation is given within two weeks to six months following resolution of symptoms. 
  • Must be at least 16 years old (16- and some 17-year-olds must bring a signed permission form from a parent or guardian, if required by state or school).
  • Weigh at least 110 pounds. Certain height/weight criteria may apply for donors 22 years old or younger.
  • Be in good general health.
  • For your safety and to ensure a positive donation experience, make sure you eat within two hours ahead of your donation. Drink plenty of water that day and 24 to 48 hours beforehand. Feel free to help yourself to something to eat and drink in our refreshment area.
  • Bring your ID—something with your name and one of the following: date of birth, donor ID number or your photo.
  • You must wait eight weeks between whole blood donations. Learn more about specific intervals for other types of donation.
  • You should not be under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs at the time of donation.

Platelet donors should avoid aspirin and/or aspirin-containing products 48 hours prior to donation and other anti-platelet medications as listed here.

Power Red donors must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Unlike plasma that is donated specifically for patient transfusion, source plasma is collected and used to develop lifesaving medicines and therapies for patients with neurological disorders, immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders and more. Currently, Vitalant only offers voluntary source plasma donation opportunities to people who live in the Sacramento area.

Source plasma donors have specific eligibility requirements. Please call us at 877-258-4825 for more information.
 

You should NOT donate today if you are not feeling well. Blood donors are NOT tested for coronavirus.

You should NOT donate today if in the last 2 weeks you:
  • Had symptoms from a lab-diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 infection and have not had a subsequently negative nasopharyngeal swab test result.
  • Have lived with or been in close contact with individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 infection.
  • Are a health care worker who has been caring for a patient diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 and have not consistently been able to use recommended personal protective equipment (face mask, gown and gloves).
  • Have a pending COVID-19 test.
What are COVID-19 and its symptoms?
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for an outbreak of a respiratory illness first detected in China. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has listed several classical symptoms of COVID-19 infection which include:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscle pains
  • Chills
  • Sudden loss of taste or smell
How is SARS-CoV-2 transmitted?
  • Person-to-person transmission occurs like the spread of the flu (influenza).
  • When an infected person coughs or sneezes, fluid droplets from the nose and mouth enter the air and settle on surfaces; live virus in these droplets can infect others who touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Before donating blood, please refer to your state’s or public health agency’s guidelines for COVID-19 testing and quarantining if you have recently traveled (domestically or internationally).

For more information, read our Blood Donor Notice.
The Blood Donor Notice is also available in Spanish.

Blood donors are NOT tested for coronavirus. Do not donate blood if you are sick.

Depending on the circumstances, if you were told previously that you were disqualified from donating blood, you might be able to now. See Updated Eligibility for HIV/AIDs, malaria and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The information above is not all-inclusive and is subject to change. It's important you review this information before scheduling an appointment.