ABCs of eligibility for donating blood, platelets and plasma
Thank you for your interest in donating blood, platelets and plasma! Your donation today can make all the difference for someone tomorrow.
This page contains answers to common questions you might have before your appointment, to help determine if you’re able to donate.
Various factors can determine whether a person can donate, including medications, medical conditions, pregnancy, travel or even accessibility within our donor centres. Sometimes, it’s not possible to donate, or we may ask that you wait before donating again. We know your time is valuable, and it’s important to us that your donor experience is a positive one.
Please keep in mind that donor eligibility and ability to donate can change over time. Even if you can’t donate now, you may be able to do so in the future. If you have questions about your eligibility or ability to donate, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283). Final eligibility will be determined at the time of donation.
If you discover you aren’t currently able to donate, there are several other meaningful ways you can join Canada’s Lifeline. Join the stem cell registry, register to become an organ and tissue donor, or consider becoming a financial donor or donating your time as a volunteer.
Here are the top 4 topics accessed by donors. Below are many more topics for you to explore!
Age
To become a blood donor in Canada you must be at least 17 years old and meet our minimum height and weight requirements, particularly if you are between 17 and 23 years old.
If you are between 17 and 23 years old, and never donated before, you must meet our height and weight requirements outlined in the table here.
Medications
If you are currently taking medication and want to know if you are eligible to donate, review our list of acceptable and unacceptable medications here. If your medication is not listed, please call to speak with one of our trained health professionals at 1 888 2 DONATE (1- 888-236-6283).
Vaccinations
If you have recently been vaccinated, you may be temporarily deferred from donating blood or plasma. Review our full list of deferral periods for vaccinations below.Travel
If you are planning a trip outside of Canada or have just returned, be sure you are informed about how your destination may affect your ability to donate.
Visit our travel page for more information.
Accessibility in donor centres
Canadian Blood Services welcomes and encourages all individuals who are eligible to join Canada’s Lifeline and become regular blood, platelet and plasma donors.
We recognize, however, there may be physical and process barriers to donation that currently exist in our donor centres. We know that these barriers can cause hurt and frustration and we are working to do better. We are committed to making our spaces as accessible and inclusive as possible for all.
If you have questions about your ability to donate, please call us at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).
Blind, partially-sighted and low-vision donors
Individuals who are blind, partially-sighted or who have low-vision can have a Canadian Blood Services employee read any required information to you during the screening process and assist you to the donation floor (if required).
Service animals may accompany you into all permanent donation centres. In most centres, you may be accompanied by a service animal throughout the donation process.
More information about services animals in donor centres can be found below.
Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing donors
If you require assistance from a sign language interpreter, we would be happy to arrange for a qualified interpreter to accompany you through the donation process. Due to Health Canada regulations, only certified, non-related interpreters are permitted in screening booths with donors.
Click here for more information about sign language interpreting services.
Language interpretation services
Our donor questionnaire is available in English and French, and we operate in French at select donor centres. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to provide language interpreters, unless we are booking appointments for a large group of donors (minimum 20 people).
Due to Health Canada requirements, only certified language interpreters and Canadian Blood Services screeners are allowed in screening booths with donors.
We recognize there is a need to evolve our translation services and we are actively exploring options to offer more multilingual services.
For information about sign language interpreting services for Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing donors, click here.
Service animals in donor centres
In most of our donation environments, you may be accompanied by your service animal throughout the donation process. All of our permanent donor centres permit service animals. Rarely, restrictions may be imposed by property owners of mobile donation sites.
If for any reason you are required to separate from your service animal, your service animal will be able to wait for you in a safe location, and an employee will offer you any necessary assistance.
Support persons
Individuals who require a support person are welcome to have them accompany you during your appointment. However, we do not allow support persons to participate in the confidential screening portion of the donation process, as per Health Canada regulations.
A support person (personal support worker, family member, friend, etc.) may assist a donor requiring physical assistance onto a donation bed. Our employees aren’t trained to transfer donors onto our donation beds.
Wheelchair and mobility aid users
Individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids may self-report their height and weight during screening at our dedicated plasma donor centres and other donor centres where we collect plasma and/or platelets.
We unfortunately do not have height-adjustable donation beds and our employees aren’t trained to transfer donors onto our donation beds. However, you may bring a support person (personal support worker, family member, friend, etc.) to assist you onto a donation bed.
We do require that all donors use our donation beds, to ensure a consistent and safe donation experience. We need to be able to ensure that your feet can be elevated, in the event that you feel faint. Our employees are trained to rest and adjust your arm in a certain way on the donation bed but are not trained to maneuver donors’ wheelchairs in case of an emergency.
In the very unlikely but serious event that someone requires additional measures such as CPR, our donation beds can ensure these measures are performed safely.