Who can give blood

Most people can give blood. You can give blood if you:

are fit and healthy
weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs and 25 stone, or 50kg and 158kg
are aged between 17 and 66 (or 70 if you have given blood before)
are over 70 and have given a full blood donation in the last two years

Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice

Please keep donating, particularly if you are:

male - men can donate more often than women
black - Ro blood is needed and is a common type for black donors
O negative - hospitals need this blood type most regularly, as it can be given to all patients

Our donation centres are open as normal despite coronavirus restrictions. Giving blood and platelets is essential to the NHS and vulnerable patients.

We have new rules about donating after coronavirus. Please read the following information before coming to donate:

Read our coronavirus rules about donating blood
Read our latest advice for blood donors

How often can I give blood?

Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women can give blood every 16 weeks. Find out more about what happens on the day of your donation.

Check you are able to give blood

Use this quick list to check you can give.

You can also read some of the most common eligibility questions we receive from blood donors.

If you have a health condition, have travelled out of the country recently, or if you answer "yes" to any question on your Donor Health Check questionnaire, please call 0300 123 23 23 or check the health & eligibility or travel section for further advice about whether this affects you donating blood.

You can register here as a blood donor.

The common reasons donors should check if they can give blood are:

if you are receiving medical or hospital treatment
if you are taking medication
after travelling outside of the UK
after having a tattoo or piercing
during and after pregnancy
if you feel ill
if you have cancer
after receiving blood, blood products or organs

If you have any questions then contact us by completing a web form or call us on 0300 123 23 23.

Male and female donors

Men are more likely to donate more often than women because they generally have higher iron levels.

Find out more about why men often make good blood donors

Women under 20 - check if you can give blood

If you are a woman under 20 and you weigh under 10st 3lb or 65kg or are under 5' 6" or 168cm tall you will need to estimate your blood volume to see if you can give blood. If your weight lies between two of the values shown, please use the nearest lower weight.

Results:

Estimate

Alternatively download our reference sheet here (PDF 109KB)

Blood safety (please read all sections)

We must make sure it is safe for people to give blood and for patients to receive donated blood. Blood safety information is below:

You must not donate if:

You must never donate if:

You are HIV positive or receiving treatment for HIV
You are a hepatitis B carrier
You are a hepatitis C carrier
You are HTLV positive
You have ever been diagnosed with syphilis, even if treated
You have ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once. This includes body-building drugs, injected tanning agents and injected chemsex drugs. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs. Please check with us to make sure

You must not donate for at least 3 months after sex (even if you used a condom or other protective) if you meet the following criteria:

You must not donate until you have checked the individual risk criteria:

You must not donate if in the last 3 months you have had more than 1 sexual partner, AND you have had anal sex with any of those partners
You must not donate for at least 3 months since first sexual contact if you have had anal sex with a new sexual partner (a new partner is someone that you have not had sex with before or a previous partner with whom you have restarted a sexual relationship)
You must not donate for at least 3 months if you have taken part in chemsex activity, including the use of stimulant drugs. This risk applies for all sexual contact
You must not donate for at least 3 months after completion of treatment and discharged from further follow up if diagnosed with gonorrhoea

You must not donate for at least 3 months after sex (even if you used a condom or other protective) with:

A partner who is, or you think may be:

HIV positive
A hepatitis B carrier
A hepatitis C carrier
HTLV positive

A partner who has ever received money or drugs for sex
A partner who has ever injected, or been injected with, drugs - even a long time ago or only once. This includes body-building drugs injected tanning agents and injected chemsex drugs. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs. Please check with us to make sure
A partner who has, or you think may have been, sexually active in parts of the world where HIV/ AIDS is very common. This includes most countries in Africa. There are exceptions, so please check with us to make sure

Coronavirus update

Check you can give

These questions will help you check you are able to give blood

Check you can give

Register

Become a blood donor

Why men make good blood donors

Iron levels and the absence of some antibodies help make men good donors

The donation process

What happens when you come to give blood?

Find out more

Where can I donate?

Our 23 permanent donor centres are situated all around the country. Find the closest one to you.

Our donor centres