Platelets are tiny cell fragments circulating in the blood that are essential for clotting. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets form a plug to stop bleeding, a process vital for maintaining hemostasis. Patients with conditions like cancer, traumatic injuries, or those receiving organ transplants often need platelet transfusions to prevent excessive bleeding. This ongoing demand highlights the need for eligible donors.
General Donation Eligibility
Donating blood products, including platelets, requires meeting specific eligibility criteria to ensure the safety of both the donor and recipient. Donors must be at least 17 years old, though 16-year-olds may donate with parental consent in some regions, and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must be in good overall health and feel well on the day of donation, free from illness symptoms. Before donating, individuals should eat a full meal and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Valid photo identification is also necessary.
Specific Reasons for Platelet Ineligibility
Several specific factors can render an individual ineligible for platelet donation, even if they meet general blood donation requirements.
Medications
Certain medications, particularly antiplatelet agents like aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, affect platelet function and typically require a temporary deferral of at least two days. Other prescription drugs, including anticoagulants like warfarin or rivaroxaban, necessitate longer deferral periods for all blood product donations, often around seven days after the last dose. Medications for conditions like acne (isotretinoin) or prostate issues (finasteride) can also lead to deferrals ranging from one to six months due to potential risks to pregnant recipients. Individuals taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications are typically deferred for three months for oral forms and up to two years for injectable forms, as these drugs can mask early HIV infection.
Medical Conditions
A history of hepatitis B or C, or HIV, results in permanent deferral from donating platelets or any blood product. Certain cancers, like leukemia or lymphoma, also lead to permanent ineligibility, while other cancer types may have a five-year deferral period after successful treatment. Individuals with a low baseline platelet count or a history of bleeding disorders may also be ineligible.
Recent Travel, Tattoos, and Illness
Recent travel to areas where transfusion-transmissible infections like malaria are prevalent often results in a temporary deferral of three months or longer. Recent tattoos or body piercings can also lead to a temporary deferral, typically for three months, if the procedure was performed in an unregulated facility, was self-applied, or occurred outside of specific licensed jurisdictions. Donors must also be free from recent illnesses; a cold or flu typically requires a wait until symptoms have resolved, often 24 to 48 hours, or longer if a fever was present. Following a COVID-19 infection, a deferral period of 10 to 14 days after symptoms have fully cleared is generally observed. Additionally, having recently donated whole blood requires a waiting period, as whole blood donations deplete platelet levels.
Types of Donation Deferrals
Donor deferrals fall into two main categories: temporary and permanent. Temporary deferrals mean a person cannot donate for a specific period, after which they may become eligible again. These deferrals are commonly due to factors posing a transient risk to the blood supply or the donor’s health, such as recent medication use, travel, or illness.
Permanent deferrals typically indicate an individual will never be eligible to donate blood or platelets. This category includes individuals with a history of serious medical conditions like certain cancers, chronic infections such as HIV or hepatitis B and C, or specific past exposures. The distinction between temporary and permanent deferral is made to protect the health and safety of both the donor and the patient receiving the blood product. Most deferrals are temporary, meaning the door to donation may reopen in the future.
What Happens After Deferral
When a potential donor is deferred, donation center staff typically informs them of the specific reason for ineligibility. This transparency helps individuals understand the criteria and plan for future donation attempts. For temporary deferrals, the waiting period is crucial, allowing time for medications to clear the system, for recovery from an illness, or for potential infection risks to pass. Donors are encouraged to track the end of their deferral period. Many donation centers provide resources to help individuals determine when they might become eligible again.
Deferred individuals should not discontinue any prescribed medications solely for donation, as this could compromise their own health. For those with permanent deferrals, while direct donation is not possible, they can still support the blood supply by encouraging others to donate or volunteering. Blood centers prioritize safety, and these guidelines ensure that all donated products are as safe as possible for patients in need. Even if deferred, understanding the reasons contributes to the overall integrity of the blood donation system.