What are the criteria to be a blood donor?

Giving blood to a person who needs it is one of the greatest gifts that a person can give. It costs you nothing, but for the recipient, it could mean the difference between life and death.

World Blood Donor Day is a good day to honour through a blood donation. However, there is no such thing as a bad time – there are always people whose lives depend on the blood you donate.

There are many myths about blood donation, but the fact is that it is safe and carries no risk for the donor. That being said, some criteria must be adhered to when donating blood for the safety of both the donor and the recipient. In India, the National Blood Transfusion Council, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has laid down blood donation guidelines that must be followed.

The criteria for the donor are:

• Weight should not be less than 45 kgs.
• Age should be between 18 and 65.
• Blood pressure should be within normal limits for the age group.
• Pulse and temperature should be normal.
• Haemoglobin should be not less than 12.5 grams.
• If the donor has suffered from malaria, a period of 3 months must have passed since full recovery was completed. If the donor resides in a place where malaria is endemic, a period of 3 years must have elapsed since the recovery was complete.
• The donor should not have had any immunization/vaccination for cholera, typhoid, diphtheria, tetanus, plague, or gammaglobulin in 15 days preceding the blood donation. In the case of rabies vaccination, 1 year must have elapsed since the vaccination.
• There should not have been any acupuncture treatment in the last 1 year.
• No tattoos should have been done anywhere on the body for 1 year.
• Before the donation begins, a check will be done to see if there are any scars or puncture marks on the arms and forearms that may indicate drug use or frequent blood donation.
• The donor should not be having any form of cancer.
• The donor must not be suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy, hepatitis B or C, or HIV
• The donor should not be having any heart disease or ailment.
• The donor must not have asthma, epilepsy, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, polycythemia vera, or similar conditions.
• The donor should not suffer from any bleeding disorder or be on steroids.
• In the case of dental treatments, 3 days must have passed since a tooth extraction, root canal treatment, other surgery, gum autograft or implant, or similar treatment.
• A person with diabetes may be a donor if it is being controlled by diet or oral medication. No donation is accepted if the treatment is the condition by way of insulin injections.
• High-risk individuals with a history of drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, having multiple sex partners, or other high-risk activities will not be accepted for blood donation.
• Various medications may prevent a person from donating blood.
• For women, a period of one year must have passed since childbirth and the stopping of breastfeeding.

All authorized blood donation centres will have professionals present to check the eligibility of donors and answer any questions donors may have.

Eligible men may donate blood once every 3 months. Eligible women may donate once every 4 months. If you are unsure of your eligibility or have doubts or questions about the procedure, contact a doctor or hospital for advice and guidance.

 

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

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