Who can donate plasma
On this page:
Check whether you meet the basic plasma donation criteria.
Who can donate plasma
To donate plasma you will need to:
- be able to travel to a plasma donor centre in Birmingham, Reading or Twickenham
- be able to spare just over an hour to donate
- be generally fit and well
- be between the ages of 17 and 65 to start donating plasma. If you are over 65 you can start donating plasma if you have donated blood or platelets before (this must be within the last 2 years if you are over 69)
- be over 50kg (7 stone 12 lbs) and have enough blood to donate safely. Check how much blood you have
- have suitable veins and a normal pulse (we will check these before you donate)
- meet all donor eligibility criteria (we'll discuss this with you before you donate)
New to donation?
If you've never donated blood or platelets before, you can sign up to donate plasma in Birmingham, Reading or Twickenham.
Donated blood before?
If you've donated blood or platelets before, you may be able to switch to plasma donation.
Check how much blood you have
We need to know your height and weight before you donate plasma. This is so the machine we use to collect plasma can calculate how much blood you have and work out how much plasma you can safely donate.
Use this tool to check if you have enough blood to donate.
The calculation uses your gender and height to tell you the minimum weight you need to be to donate.
Results:
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.
Who might have to wait to donate plasma
There are some health, travel and lifestyle reasons that may stop you from being able to donate plasma on a temporary basis.
If you are not sure if you can donate, please call us on 0300 123 23 23 to discuss your situation.
Other reasons why you might need to wait
You will need to wait before you can donate if you:
- are pregnant
- have had a baby in the last 6 months
- have had a tattoo or piercing in the last 4 months
- travel to and from certain countries outside the UK
- are undergoing assessment or investigations for a medical condition. For example, heart conditions
I donate plasma because I want to give people more time with their loved ones. If I needed it in the future, I hope someone would do the same for me.
Albert Mensah donates plasma in London.
