Hemoglobin
During the Medical History part of your donation process, the Historian will take a small blood sample from your finger to test your hemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying molecule in your red blood cells. In order to get an accurate...
Categories for Deferrals
MSM (12-Month Deferral)
The FDA requires all blood centers to question donors about activities that are associated with an increased risk of exposure to infectious agents. According to statistics from the public health service, men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to...
Tattoos
You will no longer be deferred for tattoos obtained in a California State regulated entity. You will still be deferred for 12 months if you obtained a tattoo outside of California or in California in a non-regulated entity.
Medications
Certain medications that are perfectly safe for you to take could be harmful if transfused into another person. Please refer to the medication deferral list for a list of medications that may affect your eligibility as a blood donor. The deferral...
Travel
Anyone who has ever lived in or visited another country may have different deferral periods – this will all be reviewed in the donor screening process. Below are a few examples of common travel deferrals. If you have questions about...
Zika Virus
Stanford Blood Center now screens all blood collections for Zika virus under an Investigational New Drug (IND) protocol. Donors will no longer be deferred for travel to areas with Zika virus activity, or for sexual contact with a partner who...
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Please do not donate if you have EVER had Ebola virus infection or disease. Please do not donate for 4 weeks after full recovery if you have been diagnosed with an infection of chikungunya or dengue. If you have been...