Biological donation, encompassing blood, plasma, organs, and tissue, plays an important role in healthcare, saving and improving lives. Ensuring the safety of both the donor and the recipient is paramount, necessitating rigorous eligibility screening. This screening evaluates various health markers, including those considered “positive” indicators of a health condition.
Universal Donation Criteria
All potential donors must meet foundational eligibility requirements. For blood donation, individuals typically need to be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent. There is often no upper age limit for blood donation as long as the individual is in good health. A minimum weight of 110 pounds (approximately 50 kg) is a common requirement across various donation types.
Donors must be in good health and feeling well on the day of donation, without active symptoms like a cold or flu. These criteria ensure donor well-being and safe collection. Proper identification, such as a photo ID, is also required.
Positive Conditions That Prevent Donation
Certain positive health conditions or markers typically disqualify an individual from donating due to transmission risk or potential harm to the donor. A positive test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or taking HIV treatment permanently prevents blood donation. While an undetectable viral load reduces sexual transmission risk, the virus can still be transmitted through blood transfusion. For organ donation, HIV-positive individuals may sometimes donate to HIV-positive recipients.
Individuals who have tested positive for Hepatitis B or C are generally not eligible to donate blood, even without symptoms. Other forms of viral hepatitis might allow donation six months after full recovery, but Hepatitis B or C positivity typically results in permanent deferral. Organ donation from Hepatitis B or C positive donors to recipients with the same condition may be considered in specific circumstances.
Most types of cancer prevent blood donation, with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and multiple myeloma leading to permanent deferral. For other cancers, eligibility may be restored if treatment was completed more than 12 months prior and there has been no recurrence. Active systemic infections, such as severe bacterial or viral infections, generally lead to temporary or permanent deferral for both blood and organ donation to prevent transmission.
Positive Conditions That Allow Donation
Many positive health conditions do not necessarily disqualify a donor, especially if well-managed or fully resolved. Individuals with controlled hypertension (high blood pressure) can often donate blood if their blood pressure is within an acceptable range, typically below 180/100 mmHg, at the time of donation. Taking medication for high blood pressure generally does not prevent donation, provided the condition remains stable.
People with well-managed diabetes can often donate blood, provided their blood sugar levels are stable and they do not have diabetes-related organ damage or complications. While insulin use might disqualify donors in some countries, it is generally acceptable in the United States if diabetes is well-controlled.
Past infections, such as Hepatitis A or E, typically allow donation once the individual has fully recovered and is symptom-free for at least six months. Common illnesses like colds or flu only result in temporary deferral until symptoms resolve and any antibiotic treatment is completed. In some instances, an initial “positive” test result for an infectious agent might be a false positive. Further testing can then confirm the absence of infection and allow donation, as screening tests are highly sensitive and can sometimes react to non-infectious factors.
The Donation Assessment Process
Determining donor eligibility involves a comprehensive, multi-step assessment designed to protect both the donor and recipient. The process typically begins with a detailed health history questionnaire, asking about past medical conditions, recent travel, medications, and lifestyle factors that could pose a risk for transmissible diseases.
Following the questionnaire, a mini-physical examination is performed by trained staff. This includes checking vital signs such as temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels to ensure the donor is not anemic. These steps are important for assessing the donor’s immediate health status and their ability to safely undergo the donation.
Finally, laboratory testing of blood samples screens for infectious diseases. This screening typically includes tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV), West Nile Virus, and sometimes Zika virus, Chagas disease, and Babesia, depending on donation type and regional risks. This thorough testing ensures the safety of the donated biological material for its intended use.