Blood and Platelet Donation Qualifications

To ensure the safety of patients and donors, certain qualifications must be met before making a donation. Please note that units of blood and platelets collected at City of Hope are used only for City of Hope patients. We do not transfer or sell any blood products to other hospitals.
 
You can make an appointment online at idonateblood4hope.org or by calling 626-218-7171.
 

To make a donation:

  • If you would like to donate, you must be at least 17 years of age and weight at least 110 lbs. Donors age 16 may donate if they weigh a minimum of 120 lbs. and have a signed City of Hope Donor Center Parental Consent.
  • All donors must possess a government issued picture ID (e.g., a driver's license, passport, etc.). We also encourage you to have a healthy meal and be well hydrated (with non-caffeinated fluids) before donating.
  • Please note for platelet pheresis donors only: Do not take any ibuprofen, aspirin or aspirin-containing products 48 hours before your donation.
     

Patient-directed donations:

  • Directed donors must present the following information at the time of donation: the patient's name (as registered in the hospital), date of birth and/or medical record number.
  • Because blood is type specific, if your blood type is compatible with the patient, your donation will be given directly to your loved one. If your blood type does not match with the patient’s blood type, your blood will automatically be released for use by other patients.
  • Platelets are not blood type specific therefore platelet donors do not need to be the same blood type as the patient. Family and friends can give platelets directly to their loved one. .
  • Directed whole blood donations are reserved for the designated City of Hope patient for 35 days.
     

You cannot donate if you...

  • Do not feel well on day of donation
  • Have had cold or flu symptoms less than 48 hours prior to donation
  • Are or have been pregnant in the last 6 weeks or currently breast feeding.
  • In the past 3 months:
    • Exchanged sex for money or drugs
    • Engaged in non-prescription injection drug use (includes steroids)
    • Engaged in sex with someone who:
      • Tested positive for HIV
      • Exchanged sex for money or drugs
      • Engaged in non-prescription injection drug use
    • Had syphilis or gonorrhea
    • Are a man who has had sex with another man
    • Are a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with another man in past 3 months
    • Received a blood transfusion, such as red blood cells, platelets or plasma
    • Traveled to a malaria risk area
  • In the past 12 months:
    • Have been exposed to Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
    • Spent more than 72 consecutive hours in jail or prison
  • Had a piercing (ears, body) performed using a reusable gun or any reusable instrument in the past 3 months.  Single-use equipment piercing has no waiting period.
  • Had a tattoo in non-state regulated tattoo shop (District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming) in the past 3 months. Regulated tattoo shops in other states such as California do not have a waiting period.
  • Had malaria within the last 3 years
     

You cannot donate ever if you...

  • Spent a combined total of:
    • Three months or more cumulatively in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1996
    • Five years or more cumulatively in France or Ireland from 1980 to 2001
    • Received blood transfusion in United Kingdom, France or Ireland from 1980 to present
  • Have ever been diagnosed or tested positive for:
    • HIV or AIDS
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C
  • Have been diagnosed with:
    • Leukemia
    • Lymphoma
    • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
    • Hemophilia or related clotting factor deficiencies