Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Don't Miss

Can I Donate Plasma If I Have A Tattoo

How Do I Find A Donation Center

Answering COVID vaccine questions: Can I donate convalescent plasma after getting vaccinated? Wi…

You can find a donation center near you by searching the internet. Organizations such as the American Red Cross and Americas Blood Centers have walk-in donation centers that you can visit almost any time.

Many blood banks and donation services, such as the American Red Cross and Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, have traveling blood banks that visit schools, organizations, and other locations that are scheduled in advance.

The American Red Cross website also has pages to help you find blood drives as well as provide you with the resources to host your own. As a host, you only need to:

  • provide a location for the American Red Cross to set up a mobile donation center
  • raise awareness about the drive and get donors from your institution or organization
  • coordinate donation schedules

Before you donate blood, follow these tips to prepare your body:

  • Wait at least 8 weeks after your last donation to donate whole blood again.
  • Drink 16 ounces of water or juice.
  • Follow an iron-rich diet consisting of foods such as spinach, red meat, and beans.
  • Avoid a high fat meal right before donating.
  • Dont take aspirin for at least 2 days before the donation if you plan to donate platelets, too.
  • Avoid high stress activities.

Can You Donate Blood If You Have Tattoos

Millions of Americans have one or more tattoos and the art form continues to grow in popularity. An amazing fact is that tattoos have been around for thousands of years. The first known tattoo was discovered on an Iceman found near the Italian-Austrian border that was carbon-dated nearly 5,200 years back. Fast forward to the 21st-century where popular tattoo designs include hearts, birds, wildlife, symbols, and skulls.

A common question among potential blood donors is: “Can I donate blood if I have a tattoo?” and the answer is yes, but there are certain requirements.

Blood Donation and Tattoos

In the state of Florida, a person can donate blood as soon as their tattoo heals as long as they received that tattoo from a licensed tattoo facility. If they did not receive their tattoo at a licensed facility, a 12-month deferral rule still applies. These requirements can change by state, so be sure to check with your local blood center for their regulations.

Fun Tattoo Facts

  • Nearly 145 million Americans have tattoos
  • About 47% of Millennials have one or more tattoos

Who Can’t Donate Plasma

You can’t donate plasma if you:

  • have had most types of cancer
  • have some heart conditions
  • have received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products after 1 January 1980
  • have tested positive for HIV or HTLV
  • have had an organ transplant
  • are a hepatitis B carrier
  • are a hepatitis C carrier
  • have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents

There are other medical conditions that may mean you can’t donate. Please call us on 0300 123 23 23 to check if you can donate.

Don’t Miss: Bill Claydon’s Tattoo World

New Tattoo Fresh Ink No Longer A Barrier To Donating Blood Plasma

For nearly two decades, Bassendean garbage truck driver Drew Humphrey has made a fortnightly trip to donate blood and plasma at Perth’s Red Cross Lifeblood service.

A committed donor since the age of 17, he has only missed his regular date after getting a new tattoo or travelling overseas, activities which both required people to wait several months before donating.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood nurse Nigel Self and donor Drew Humphrey. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola

But under changes to Lifeblood’s rules announced this week, inked Australians will no longer have to wait to donate plasma, a move expected to boost stocks by 50,000 donations every year.

The announcement comes after a study of 25,000 tattooed donors by Lifeblood in partnership with the University of New South Wales Kirby Institute found it was safe for people tattooed in licensed Australian parlours to donate.

Plasma is the yellow liquid in the blood tasked with transporting cells, hormones, and vitamins around the body. It is used to treat trauma and bleeding in hospitals and to make medicine for patients suffering from cancer, hemophilia, kidney conditions, and burns.

All donated plasma in Australia is tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C, but it takes time for a recent infection to become detectable. The findings of the study will open the doors to 17,000 new donors.

Lifeblood Donor Services director Cath Stone said she hoped the move would encourage more Australians to give plasma donation a go.

Is Donating Plasma Painful

Can You Donate Blood If You Have A Tattoo?

Whether the process is painful for you depends on your pain threshold. For some people, donating feels no worse than a pinprick, while others may feel more pain. If the nurse misses the vein or you experience plasma donation side effects, its possible youll experience more pain, but overall, most people report nothing more than mild discomfort.

Read Also: How To Start A Tattoo Removal Business

Besides How Long After Piercing Can You Donate Blood

There is a rule though: you have to wait four months from the date of your tattoo or piercing before donating. And if you give blood between four months to a year after having a tattoo or piercing, staff at the donation centre might have a few extra safety checks to do.

Here are the most common factors that may disqualify you from donating your plasma:

  • Illness. People who have a fever, productive cough, or are feeling generally unwell shouldnt donate.
  • Medical conditions.

Donors Wanted: ‘new Returning And Inked’

Lifeblood predicts the changes will see 17,000 extra donors now able to roll up their sleeves and donate plasma, boosting stocks by 50,000 donations a year.

In the regional NSW city of Tamworth, dozens of locals were waiting out the four-month window.

“We’ve got around 100 Tamworth locals who have been prevented from donating blood or plasma due to having tattoos one in seven Australians have been tattooed,” Ms Dietrich said.

“We definitely always need both whole blood and plasma, but plasma is in high demand considering we make 18 different products from plasma.

“You can donate plasma more often, you can come in every two weeks if you have time and are healthy and well, so we’d love to see more people come in centre: new, return, inked.”

Ms Dietrich said the plasma donations helped people with autoimmune diseases, cancer, haemophilia, kidney diseases and burns.

“It makes a lot of different products for a lot of sick people,” she said.

“An hour of your day, come on in and have a sausage roll and a milk afterwards.”

You May Like: Laser Tattoo Removal Home Kit

Common Questions And Donation Restrictions

Age

There is no maximum age to give blood. The minimum age to donate whole blood is 15 years old. The minimum age to donate platelets and plasma is 17 years old.

Antibiotics

You can donate blood if you have completed the prescribed dose of antibiotics and no longer have any symptoms of what caused them to be prescribed.

Blood Pressure

Before donation, every potential donor has his or her blood pressure taken to ensure readings are safely within guidelines to donate. Extreme levels are 90/50 and 180/100. Below the first or above the second will defer the potential donor. And you always get a free check to know for sure!

Cancer

  • If you currently have any form of cancer, you may not donate.
  • If you have non-melanoma skin cancer , you may donate as soon as you are healed from the complete removal of the area involved.
  • For melanoma skin cancer, you must wait 1 year from the date of treatment completion.
  • If you have ever had leukemia or lymphoma you may not donate .
  • All other types of cancer are acceptable IF your doctor has declared you cancer-free and your treatment is complete. Note: Females with breast cancer who are taking hormone-blocking medications are eligible, and donors who are cancer-free but have radioactive implants are also eligible.

Diabetes

Heart and Lung Problems

High blood pressure

Low Iron or Anemia

Medications

Pregnancy

Sexual Contact

Tattoos and Piercings

Travel

Vaccinations/Immunizations

Q: Can You Donate A Blood If You Have Tattoo

VERIFY: You can still donate plasma if you’ve gotten the COVID-19 vaccine

Yes, people who have undergone body art procedures or have body piercings can surely donate blood but only after a specific period of time and once you meet certain established regulations. As per the World Health Organization guidelines, one is eligible to donate blood only after a year of getting a tattoo.

You May Like: How Long Does Eyebrow Tattoo Last

Got A New Tattoo You Can Now Donate Plasma

Inked Aussies will no longer have to wait four months since their last tattoo to donate plasma, with Lifeblood today announcing the rule has been scrapped.

A study of 25,000 tattooed donors conducted by Lifeblood in partnership with the Kirby Institute at UNINSW found that those inked in Australian licensed tattoo parlours are safe to donate blood plasma.

All donated plasma in Australia is tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C, but it takes time for a recent infection – that may be contracted from a contaminated needle – to become detectable.

While there is a link between needle procedures such as tattoos and blood born viruses, this new research demonstrates that those who received tattoos in Australian licensed or regulated premises are safe to donate, said Lifeblood Donor Services Executive Director Cath Stone.

This change means around 17,000 extra donors will now be able to donate plasma, boosting stocks by an estimated 50,000 donations each year.

Plasma is the yellow liquid that makes up more than half of what flows through our veins. It transports cells, hormones, and vitamins around the body.

Its used in hospitals to treat trauma and bleeding, but it’s also used to make life-saving medicine for patients with immunodeficiency and auto-immune diseases, cancer, haemophilia, kidney conditions and burns.

Donating Plasma Faq: Everything You Need To Know About Plasma Donation

Do you want to donate plasma, either to earn a little extra money or to help your community? Although its a fairly common practice, its a little more complicated than donating blood. If youre thinking of doing this for the first time, you might be uncertain what to expect. Read on for our guide to frequently asked questions about the requirements for donating plasma and the process overall.

Read Also: Can You Have Tattoos In The Military

Can You Donate Plasma If You Smoke Weed

Yes.

According to the Red Cross, cannabis users can donate blood, plasma, and other blood products like platelets. The donation centers do not test for THC. In addition to that, whoever gets your blood or plasma wont fail their drug test if you use weed. That includes weed products with a lot of THC.

There is just one scenario where a stoner may be turned away from a donation center. That is, if weed is affecting your concentration or memory at the time of giving blood.

Can I Donate Blood After Getting A Tattoo

Tattoos and Donating BloodHeres What You Need to Know ...

Donating a pint of whole blood took about 45 minutes less time than it took to get most of her tattoos and she potentially saved three lives. Finn said she would have donated sooner but had once been told she had to wait a year after getting a tattoo.

I went to donate blood once in college but was told I couldnt because of the rules, Finn said.

Those rules have changed. Most people can donate blood immediately after getting inked, as long as the tattoo was applied at a state-regulated entity that uses sterile needles and ink that is not reused. Colorado regulates tattoo parlors only Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania do not. If youve gotten inked at a Colorado tattoo parlor, you can donate blood immediately.

Don’t Miss: Wild Idea Tattoo Rapid City

You Also Cant Donate If You Have Any Piercings That Are Less Than 3 Months Old

You often cant donate blood for 3 months after getting a piercing, either.

Like tattoos, piercings can introduce foreign material and pathogens into your body. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV can be contracted through blood contaminated by a piercing.

Theres a catch to this rule, too.

Though many states regulate facilities that provide piercing services, there are specific rules regarding eligibility based on the equipment used.

If your piercing was performed with a single-use gun or needle at a state-regulated facility, you should be able to donate blood.

If the gun was reusable or youre not absolutely sure that it was single-use you shouldnt give any blood until 3 months have passed.

Conditions that affect your blood in some way may make you ineligible to donate blood.

Can You Donate Blood After Getting A Tattoo

Make an Appointment

Donating blood is noble practice. Your donated blood can improve someones health condition or even save their life. Blood donation is a great way of extending help to a fellow human being. However, there are certain myths that make people believe they are not eligible for donating blood. The most popular one is you cannot donate blood if you have a tattoo. That myth is just a myth.

People from all walks of life get a tattoo and the fad of getting one is not going to end anytime soon. So does that mean these people cannot donate blood ever again? No, that is not true. Getting a tattoo does not automatically put a permanent ban on blood donation.

An individual who donates blood willingly and freely, after he/she has been declared fit post a medical examination for donating blood, without accepting in return any consideration in cash or kind from any source, is considered a donor. This however, does not include a professional or a paid donor.

When you look at the eligibility criteria for a blood donor, there is no source which says that if you have a tattoo you cannot donate. The general qualifications of a blood donor are:

If obtaining your tattoo infected you with hepatitis, you wont be a candidate for blood donation. If you are cleared not to have hepatitis or on an off chance HIV, then you can go ahead and donate blood and become the superhero in someones life.

Don’t Miss: Delete It Now Tattoo Removal

Can Plasma Centers Tell If You Got A Tattoo

Plasma centers cant tell if you have a tattoo and when you got it. However, if your tattoo is on a visible spot like your hand, arm, or neck and is fresh, the center might get to know that youve recently got a tattoo. Before donating blood or plasma, the center will run a few blood tests on you that usually help detect any possible virus such as hepatitis. These illnesses are common in people who get piercings and tattoos, especially if they have gone through a tattoo process using unsanitized tattooing instruments. Hepatitis can cause severe illness, and by donating blood while having a tattoo, youre putting the receiver at a huge risk.

Sometimes you can get away with a tattoo and donate blood without anyone ever knowing about this. However, this again is a big risk, as you may possibly put someones life in danger. Having a tattoo doesnt mean you cant donate blood ever. As a donor, you have to meet a few requirements if you have a tattoo to make you eligible to donate blood or plasma. You can find these out below.

Why You Should Not Give Blood

VERIFY: Will a COVID vaccine prevent you from donating plasma?

You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV. You are at risk for getting infected if you: have used needles to take any drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor in the last 3 months.

Read Also: Free Tattoo Removal For Gang Members

How Long After You Get A Tattoo Can You Donate Blood

If you have recently gotten a tattoo, you are required to delay donating blood for at least 6 months. In between this period, you will not be eligible for blood donation.15-Jun-2019

How long after a tattoo can you donate blood?

  • While your tattoo may be permanent, the deferral isnt. If your tattoo was applied in one of the 11 states that do not regulate tattoo facilities, you must wait 12 months before donating blood.

Plasma Donations And Tattooos

Tattoos wont prevent you from giving plasma. According to the Red Cross, if your tattoo parlor is a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused, you can give blood. The Red Cross says the same stipulations go for both blood and plasma.

If youre in one of the states that do not regulate tattoo parlors then wait three months before you donate blood or plasma.

The states that dont regulate tattoo parlors are:

  • District of Columbia

You May Like: How To Naturally Fade A Tattoo

Q: What Are Disadvantages Of Tattoos

Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including: Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.

+ Can I Donate For Myself

Can I Donate Blood If I Have Tattoos On My Skin

Yes, this is called an autologous blood donation, which is the process of donating blood for oneself. For an autologous blood donation, donors are able to donate their own blood for an upcoming occasion where they will need blood transfusions, such as a scheduled surgery. Your blood is collected in the days and weeks prior to surgery, stored and returned to you during or following surgery to replace the blood lost. Donors may ask their physicians to make the necessary arrangements for an autologous blood donation, and then the donor will schedule an appointment with Blood Assurance.

Recommended Reading: Best Laser Tattoo Removal Machine

Latest Posts

Popular Articles

Stay in touch

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.