In general, to donate blood, you should be:
- At least 17 years old
- 110 pounds or heavier
- In good health
And you should not:
- Be pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- Have had a dental procedure, including a routine cleaning, within 48 hours of donating
- Have traveled to a malaria-risk country
- Tattoos: You must wait 3 months before donating and the area must be fully healed.
- All body piercings, including ears: You must wait 3 months before donating.
- Have felt sick within 72 of your donation appointment
- Have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test
- Have used needles to take any drugs not prescribed by your doctor IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
- Have taken money, drugs, or other payment for sex IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS
- Have had sexual contact IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS with anyone described above
- Have taken any medication to prevent HIV infection by mouth IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. (These medications may be known by you under the following names: PrEP, PEP, Truvada, or Descovy)
- Have taken an injection or shot to prevent HIV infection IN THE PAST 2 YEARS
- Have EVER taken any medication to treat HIV infection
