What To Know Before Donating

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    Stay Hydrated! Drink plenty of water before donating.

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    Eat Healthy! Eat a healthy meal before donating.

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    Be in good health! Don’t donate when you’re not feeling your best.

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    Identification. Please bring a valid drivers license.

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    No Children or Guests. Only donors are allowed on our donor buses and donation room. At centers, guests, including children, must wait in the waiting area.

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    Medications.  Know which medications you have taken recently.

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    Travel outside of the USA/Canada.  Know the dates/countries visited.

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    Check the Eligibility below for more information.

Thank you for your interest in donating blood. We ask that you do not assume you cannot donate because you are on medications, etc. Click the tabs below to learn about our eligibility. If you have additional questions, please call 865-524-3074. Click one of the links at the bottom of the page for additional information regarding medication, travel deferrals, or young donors.

Health

Medication

There is no deferral for these types of medications: Antidepressants, Analgesics, Antacids, Anti-asthmatics (steroid-free), Anti-Fungal (External), Anti-histamines, Anti-Hypertensive (High Blood Pressure), Birth Control, Decongestants, Diet Pill, Diuretic, Tranquilizers, Topical Steroid, Vitamins.

Antibiotics: deferral is 1 day after your last dose (must complete the course as prescribed by a doctor) and be symptom-free. Full List.

Aspirin List

Common Ailments

There is no deferral for these types of common ailments: Acid Reflux, Acne, Allergies, Arthritis-Osteo, Arthritis-Rheumatoid (if asymptomatic), diabetes (if controlled), High Blood Pressure, Psoriasis, Poison Ivy, Ringworm, Ulcerative Colitis (if asymptomatic), vaginal yeast infection.

Cold/Flu – 1 day deferral

Dental

Crown placement (permanent) with no gum probing or drilling/sanding of tooth – No deferral
Crown placement (temporary) with sanding/drilling of tooth – 4-day deferral
Dental Cleaning – 2-day deferral
Extraction (simple) – 4-day deferral
Filling – 2-day deferral
Oral surgery – 4-day deferral
Root canal – 4-day deferral
Seating of dental appliance after root canal – 2-day deferral
Wisdom tooth extraction – 4-day deferral

COVID-19

The deferral period is 10 days. Donors can donate any products on the 11th day after the last symptoms, or the 11th day after a positive diagnostic test result.

Cancer

Skin (Basal Cell or Squamous Cell) – No deferral if completely excised and healed
Melanoma – 1-year deferral
Deep Tissue – 1-year deferral
Breast – 1-year deferral
Leukemia/Lymphoma – Indefinite deferral (Prior to the age of 12 is a 10-year deferral.)

Sexual Health

Updated Donor Education Material

Herpes, HPV & Chlamydia – no deferral
Syphilis or Gonorrhea – 3-month deferral
HIV/AIDS – indefinite deferral
PrEp/PEP for HIV Prevention Information

Hepatitis

Hepatitis B or C since your 11th birthday – indefinite deferral

Hepatitis A – must be one year from the last active date
Household or sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis – 3 month deferral

Other

Accidental Needlestick – 3-month deferral
Surgical Blood Transfusion – 3-month deferral
Mononucleosis – 1-month deferral
Stroke – 1-year deferral
Diabetes – no deferral
Heart Attack – May donate if 6 months have passed and the donor is asymptomatic and has written approval from a doctor. A doctor’s note of approval is not needed if the heart attack occurred three or more years ago.
Heart Murmur or MVP – no deferral if asymptomatic

16-year-olds – Must weigh at least 125 lbs.

Weight – Donors over 19 must weigh at least 115 lbs.

Endoscopy (includes any form of colonoscopy, endoscopy, or upper GI endoscopy) – 4-day deferral (may require longer deferral based on scope results.)

Vaccinations

There is no deferral for these vaccines: COVID-19 vaccine, Tetanus Booster, Flu (Shot or Mist), or Polio.

Hepatitis B – 3 week deferral
MMR – 4 week deferral

Meningitis – No deferral
Shingrix or Zostavax (Shingles) – 4 week deferral
Anti-HPV – 1 day deferral

Click here to learn more about vaccines and blood donations. 

Women's Health

Pregnancy, Abortion, Miscarriage – 6-week deferral
RhoGAM – 6-week deferral
Birth Control – no deferral
Vaginal Yeast Infection – no deferral
Breast Cancer – 1-year deferral following therapy

Men's Health

Propecia (for baldness) – 30-day deferral
Men who have had sexual contact with another man – See Updated Donor Eligibility FAQ
Prostate Cancer – 1-year deferral following therapy
Testosterone Therapy – Varies. Call our center for specific information.

Other

Acupuncture

Aseptic and performed by licensed acupuncturist or under direct M.D. supervision – no deferral

Drug Use

Injected drugs not prescribed by your doctor – 3 month deferral

Had sexual contact with someone who has injected drugs not prescribed by their doctor – 3 month deferral

Incarceration

Been incarcerated 72 hours or longer – 1 year deferral

Piercings

Ear (sterile gun) – no deferral
Body (performed by qualified personnel using single use equipment and aseptic technique) – no deferral

Sex

Received money or drugs in exchange for sex – 3 month deferral

Tattoos

No deferral if performed using sterile equipment at licensed establishment in Tennessee or Kentucky
All other states – 3 month deferral

Young Donors

Consent Form

MEDIC requires any donor who is 16 to have parental consent to donate. Click here for the parental consent form.