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 up to 90 minutes 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 50 kg (7 stone 12 lbs) and have the right height and weight to donate safely. Check your height and weight
- 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 change to plasma donation.
Check how much blood you have
We check your height and weight before your first plasma donation and your weight before every plasma donation. This is to make sure it is safe for you to donate plasma.
The machine we use to collect plasma uses this information to work out how much blood you have, and how much plasma you can safely donate.
You can use this tool to check if you have enough blood to donate plasma.
Please note that this tool is a guide only, and we will check your height and weight again at your first appointment.
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.