Deferrals from Donating

The Armed Services Blood Program, like all of the blood collection organizations in the United States, adheres to strict FDA regulations on the collection, processing, and distribution of blood products.
In addition, the ASBP follows a number of Dept. of Defense Medical directives as well.

So to find out if you qualify to donate blood to the Armed Forces, you can check with their website at this link: http://militaryblood.dod.mil/donors/can_i_donate.aspx.

Generally though, any of the following would be considered 'deal breakers' and defer you from giving blood:

• Donated blood within the last 56 days
  
• Recent surgery (including dental)
  
• 1-3 year deployment to the Middle East (Deferred one year; does not include Kuwait or Qatar)
  
• Tattoo in Ohio. Tattoo must have been a year ago with one needle, and the skin healed (other states vary)
  
• Piercings, brands, or permanent make-up (12 months)
  
• Pregnancy
  
• Under 17 years of age (Although Ohio like many other states has passed a law allowing 16 year-olds to donate blood, the ASBP follows Dept. of Defense directives, which still disallows them from donating)
  
• Too low blood iron (Under 12.5 g/dL); this defers a good 5 percent of those who come in to donate.
  
• High blood pressure (another one that defers several applicants)
  
• Aids or hepatitis, or HIV positive results
  
• Possible exposure to "Mad Cow" (Crutzfeldt-Jakob) disease. This is a huge, all-encompassing exclusion that indefinitely defers many people who have traveled to Europe. Generally, you are deferred if you have a) were in England for over 3 months from 1980 to 1996; b) received a blood transfusion there from 1980 to today; c) were anywhere in Europe for over 6 months from 1980 to 1996; d) were in Europe for over 5 years or more from 1980 to today; e) received bovine insulin prepared in England since 1980.
  
  Recently added to this was an indefinite deferral for anyone who spent six months or greated in Saudi Arabia from 1980-1996.
  
• Weigh under 110 lbs.
  
• Received certain shots (flu shots usually do not count)
  
• Blood transfusion in the U.S. (1 year deferral)
  
• Acupuncture (1 year deferral)
  
• Cold or flu (deferred 3 days after patient 'feels well' again)
• Ongoing skin disease, such as poison ivy or oak
  Naturally, many of the above are temporary deferrals or just reflect temporary conditions, though some (like the Mad Cow disease, Aids, or hepatitis) are essentially permanent deferrals.

  What About Medications?

  Surprisingly, many prescription medications do not preclude you from donating. Check with your physician, or call the ASBP main number (703-681-8024) to find out for sure.

  Travel Form

  Below is the link to the travel form you must fill out or provide a copy of each time (.pdf format). Filling it out beforehand will expedite your donation process.

  http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/Donor_History_Form.pdf