What To Know Before Donating
Stay Hydrated! Drink plenty of water before donating.
Eat Healthy! Eat a healthy meal before donating.
Be in good health! Don’t donate when you’re not feeling your best.
Identification. Please bring a valid drivers license.
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.
Medications. Know which medications you have taken recently.
Travel outside of the USA/Canada. Know the dates/countries visited.
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 (you must complete the course as prescribed by a doctor) and be symptom-free.
Asprin: Deferral is 2 days from your last dose. Aspirin List
For a complete medication list, click here.
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 (if not a live virus 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.
Travel
Visited Malaria Endemic Area
For more than 24 hours – 3 month to 3 year deferral
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.