Who Can Give Blood and Who Can’t
, by Andrew Odgers, 11 min reading time
Eligibility
Who can give blood and who cannot: current NHS guidelines
Most healthy adults aged 17 to 66 who weigh at least 50kg can give blood in the UK. Current NHS guidelines set out a comprehensive framework of eligibility criteria covering age, weight, health on the day, medical history, medications, recent travel, lifestyle factors and specific deferral conditions. Many deferrals are temporary. Understanding which conditions prevent donation permanently, which require a waiting period and which have no impact at all is the key to knowing where you stand.
The current NHS eligibility framework
Who can give and who cannot under current guidelines
The basic criteria everyone must meet
To give blood in the UK you must be aged 17 to 66 if donating for the first time, or up to 70 if you have donated before and given blood within the last two years. You must weigh at least 50kg. You must feel completely well on the day of donation, with no active illness, cold, sore throat, fever or active infection of any kind. These criteria apply to every donor at every appointment.
Your haemoglobin is checked before every donation. The minimum is 125 grams per litre for women and 135 g/L for men. Your blood pressure is also checked and must be below 180 systolic and 100 diastolic to proceed. These checks are performed at the appointment rather than being pre-assessed and they represent the gatekeeping mechanism that protects both donors and recipients.
Conditions that allow donation
Many common health conditions do not prevent donation. Well-controlled high blood pressure on medication, Type 2 diabetes managed by diet or tablets, asthma managed with inhalers, most mental health conditions, hay fever and seasonal allergies, stable thyroid conditions, controlled epilepsy that has been seizure-free for a defined period, and most dermatological conditions all fall in this category.
The key principle is that a condition does not prevent donation unless it poses a specific risk to the donor during the donation process or to the recipient through the donated blood. Many millions of people with common chronic conditions donate blood safely and regularly throughout the UK.
Temporary deferrals: when you must wait
Temporary deferrals are the most common category of ineligibility. Recent tattoos or piercings require a four-month wait. A course of antibiotics requires a seven-day wait after the last dose. Major surgery under general anaesthetic requires six months. Pregnancy and the postnatal period require waiting until six months after delivery. Travel to malaria-risk countries requires six months after return without symptoms.
Recent sexual history is assessed through the individual risk questionnaire introduced in 2021. Donors with a new sexual partner or more than one partner in the last three months wait three months from the most recent contact. This rule applies equally to all donors regardless of orientation or gender. Each of these deferrals has a specific end date after which donation is permitted without any ongoing restriction.
Permanent or long-term deferrals
A smaller number of conditions and histories result in permanent or long-term exclusion. Receiving a blood transfusion in the UK after 1 January 1980 is a permanent deferral due to the theoretical risk of variant CJD. Blood cancers including leukaemia and lymphoma are a permanent deferral. Certain retinoid medications including isotretinoin require waiting periods of one month after the last dose, and acitretin requires three years.
HIV, HTLV infection and certain other blood-borne conditions are permanent deferrals. Injecting recreational drugs or anabolic steroids at any point is a permanent deferral. These permanent exclusions are relatively few in number. The vast majority of eligibility questions concern temporary deferrals or conditions that have no impact on eligibility at all.
The 2021 policy changes and current LGBTQ+ eligibility
The most significant recent change to NHS eligibility guidelines was the June 2021 introduction of the individual risk-based assessment for all donors, replacing the previous blanket restrictions on men who have sex with men. All donors are now assessed using the same questionnaire regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The three-month deferral rule applies universally based on recent sexual behaviour.
This change was the result of the government-commissioned FAIR review and brought the UK in line with international best practice. Trans and non-binary donors are assessed under the same individual framework. PrEP use requires declaration but is not an automatic deferral. The eligibility position for LGBTQ+ donors has substantially improved since 2021 and continues to be reviewed.
How to check your specific eligibility
The most reliable way to check your eligibility is through the eligibility checker at blood.co.uk, which covers the most common scenarios and is updated as guidelines change. For specific medications, the NHS medication lookup tool at blood.co.uk allows you to search by drug name and see the current deferral position.
For complex medical histories or unusual circumstances, the NHS donor helpline at 0300 123 23 23 can provide individual guidance. Staff are trained to assess non-standard situations and can give you a specific answer before you travel to a donation centre. The default position is that if you are uncertain, call before attending rather than attempting to attend and being deferred.
Ready to donate
Most people can give blood. Could you?
The majority of healthy adults in the UK are eligible to donate. Check your eligibility at blood.co.uk, register and book your appointment. The NHS needs you consistently.
Key eligibility checkpoints
The most commonly misunderstood eligibility rules
These are the eligibility points that most often cause confusion or lead to unnecessary self-exclusion.
- Having a tattoo does not permanently prevent donation. A four-month wait from the date of application is required. After that, there is no restriction regardless of how many tattoos you have.
- Taking common medication does not automatically prevent donation. Most blood pressure tablets, antidepressants, contraceptives and other everyday medications are compatible with donation. Declare all medications and let staff confirm.
- Being gay, bisexual or a man who has sex with men does not prevent donation. Since June 2021 all donors are assessed using the same behaviour-based questionnaire. Settled monogamous same-sex couples face no deferral.
- Having diabetes does not automatically prevent donation. Well-controlled Type 2 diabetes on diet or tablets is generally compatible. Insulin users are assessed individually. Declare your condition and let staff advise.
The NHS eligibility guidelines are designed to be as inclusive as safely possible. They are reviewed and updated regularly as evidence evolves. Most people who have assumed they cannot give blood have never actually checked, and many of them are wrong. The eligibility tool at blood.co.uk takes five minutes and may well tell you that you can.
Our Can I give blood guide covers the complete eligibility framework in a single accessible reference.
Part of the hub
Back to the Giving Blood Hub
This article is part of our complete giving blood knowledge base, covering eligibility, preparation, what happens on the day, recovery, types of donation and the science of why blood is so urgently needed.
Keep reading
Eligibility in depth
Can I give blood gives the complete eligibility overview. Can you give blood if you are on medication covers the medication picture in full. And Common myths about giving blood addresses the misconceptions that keep eligible donors away.
Frequently asked
NHS eligibility guideline questions
Who can give blood under current NHS guidelines?
Most healthy adults aged 17 to 66 who weigh at least 50kg and feel well on the day. Many common health conditions and medications are compatible with donation. Eligibility is assessed at every appointment through a health questionnaire, haemoglobin check and blood pressure reading.
Who cannot give blood under current NHS guidelines?
People who received a UK blood transfusion after January 1980, those with blood cancers, those taking certain blood thinners or retinoid medications, people who have ever injected recreational drugs or anabolic steroids, and those who are not well on the day of donation. Many other deferrals are temporary rather than permanent.
When did NHS blood donation guidelines last change significantly?
June 2021, when the blanket restrictions on men who have sex with men were replaced with the individual risk-based questionnaire applied equally to all donors. This was the most significant eligibility change in decades.
Can people with chronic conditions give blood?
Many can. Well-controlled high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, most mental health conditions and many other common conditions are compatible with donation. Eligibility depends on the specific condition and how it is managed, not on the presence of a diagnosis alone.
How do I check if I am eligible to give blood?
Use the eligibility checker at blood.co.uk, the NHS medication lookup tool for specific drugs, or call the donor helpline on 0300 123 23 23 for individual guidance on complex situations.
Do NHS guidelines differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
The core eligibility criteria are consistent across all four UK nations as all services follow NHS-aligned guidelines. There may be minor administrative differences in how sessions are run but the donation eligibility rules themselves are the same throughout the UK.