How Often Can You Donate Blood?

Updated on 2024-03-17 12:13:35 0 0

By Lana Barhum

Medically reviewed by Anthony Pearson, MD

There are four ways to donate blood—whole blood, Power Red, platelet, and plasma donations.1 Each of these has a different process of donation, and how often you can donate will depend on the type of blood donation.

People might donate blood for different reasons, but no matter the reason, donating blood is safe and can save multiple lives. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, and for every donation you make you could save up to three lives.2

Donating whole blood six times a year is safe, while other blood donations can be made more frequently or less often. Certified blood donation centers will use sterile equipment for every donation to eliminate infection risk. But not everyone can donate blood, and certain health conditions may affect eligibility.

This article covers how often you can donate blood, information on waiting periods and recovery times, and safety with frequent donations.

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How Many Times You Can Give Blood

How often you can donate blood will depend on the type of blood donation you are giving. This is because various parts of your blood will replenish at different rates.

In a Month

Plasma and platelet donations can be done multiple times a month, while whole blood and Power Red (giving a concentrated dose of red blood cells) can be done a few times a year.

Platelet donation, also called plateletpheresis, is a type of blood donation in which only platelets are collected.3 Platelets can help people who have blood-clotting problems, cancer, or are undergoing major surgery. According to the American Red Cross, platelet donation can be done every seven days, up to 24 times annually.3

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, accounting for 55% of your blood.4 It has many bodily functions, including managing blood pressure and volume, supplying proteins for blood clotting and immunity, maintaining pH balance throughout the body, and carrying electrolytes.

Your plasma donation can help trauma patients, including burn victims and those experiencing shock. The American Red Cross allows for plasma donation every 28 days, up to 13 times a year, but if you go to a certified plasma donation center, you can donate more frequently—up to 15 times a month.4

In a Year

A whole blood donation provides all parts of the blood, including red and white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Whole blood can be used in its original form or separated into parts.5 A whole blood donation can be made every 56 days, or six times yearly.

A Power Red blood donation—also called a double red cell donation, collects two units of red blood cells.6 With a Power Red blood donation, you can donate every 112 days, up to three times a year. The American Red Cross urges eligible adults with blood types O, A negative, and B negative blood types to make Power Red donations.

Eligibility Criteria for Blood Donation

The FDA ensures blood donation safety. To give blood, you must be in good health and:7

Have normal vitals, including pulse, blood pressure, and temperature
Meet your state’s minimum age requirements for donating blood
Have a normal hemoglobin level (the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen)
Be free of infections that could be transmitted through a blood transfusion and not have risk factors that increase exposure to these infections
Meet donation frequency requirements
Have no history of nonprescription use of injected drugs
Have not gotten a tattoo in the last three months (unless done under sterile conditions at and at a state-licensed facility)
Have all chronic health conditions managed

You may also be deferred from donating if you have certain medical conditions or are receiving various treatments or medications.7 There are also restrictions on donating if you have traveled to places where there is a risk of certain diseases that can be transmitted in the blood (such as malaria).

Is There a Waiting Period Between Blood Donations?

It takes time for your blood to replenish between donations. Waiting times allow the body to replenish red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

Waiting times are different for each donation type. The shortest time is for plasma donation, which is 48 hours.8 The most extended waiting period is for Power Red donations, which is every 112 days.1 The waiting period for whole blood donation is 56 days, while platelet donation can be made every seven days.

Recovery Time and Replenishment After Giving Blood

How long it takes the body to recover and replenish blood varies from person to person. A person’s age, weight, height, and overall health affect the process.

According to the American Red Cross, plasma can quickly replenish within 24 hours.9 Conversely, red blood cell levels take up to six weeks to return to normal.

Will Donating Blood Detox My Body?

One study found that blood or plasma donation reduced levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighters who are exposed to these toxins in firefighting foams.10 These manufactured toxins are associated with adverse health effects, and no previous interventions have been shown to reduce them in the body.

In general, the best way to eliminate various toxins from your body is to allow it to work optimally by eating a balanced diet (especially reducing processed foods), drinking plenty of water, exercising, avoiding or eliminating alcohol, and getting regular medical care.11

Safety of Donating Blood Often

All types of blood donation are safe. New, sterile, and disposable equipment will be used for each donor, and your skin will be thoroughly disinfected at the site of the needle insertion. You are not at risk of acquiring a blood-borne infection, such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), due to the donation process.12

Most healthy adults can donate a pint of blood without any adverse health effects.12 It only takes a few days to replenish lost fluids and a few weeks to replace red blood cells. Plasma and platelets replenish even quicker.

Observational studies on shorter-than-average donation schedules have found that frequent donations could reduce the quality of donated blood.13 This includes higher rates of iron deficiency and lower hemoglobin levels.

If you plan to make frequent blood donations, you should let your healthcare provider know. They can take a look at your medical history, request blood work, and advise you on how you can safely donate and how often you can.

How Will You Feel After Donating Blood?

Some people feel dizzy, light-headed, or nauseated after donating blood. But these side effects should last only a few minutes.8

It is possible to have some bleeding at the needle site, but applying pressure and raising your arm will stop the bleeding. You may also later experience bruising at the site, which is minor and will heal within a few days.

You should stay at the blood donation center for at least 15 minutes after you donate so you can be monitored for side effects. If you experience severe side effects after leaving the donation center, seek medical care as soon as possible.

Summary

Donating blood is an important act you can do to help others. There are different ways to donate—whole blood donation, platelet donation, Power Red donation, and plasma donation. How often you can donate depends on the blood donation type.

Whole blood donation can be done every 56 days, up to six times a year, and a Power Red donation can be made every 112 days or three times a year. Other types of blood donation can be done more frequently. For example, you can donate plasma every two days or make a blood platelet donation every seven days.

Provided you meet all eligibility requirements, donating blood is a safe process. It is possible to experience side effects like nausea and dizziness, but these tend to resolve quickly.

How long it takes your body to recover and for the blood to replenish may vary based on your age and overall health. While there have been some studies that found that frequent blood donation could reduce the quality of donated blood, it is still safe for most adults to donate based on the waiting periods and eligibility requirements set by the FDA.

If you have questions on how you can safely donate, talk to your healthcare provider.

Sources

American Red Cross. Types of blood donations.

Food and Drug Administration. Advances in saving lives with blood.

American Red Cross. Platelet donation.

American Red Cross. The importance of plasma in blood.

American Red Cross. Whole blood donation.

American Red Cross. Give more with a power red donation.

Food and Drug Administration. Have you given blood lately?

Department of Health and Human Services. Give plasma.

American Red Cross. Frequently asked questions.

Gasiorowski R, Forbes MK, Silver G, et al. Effect of plasma and blood donations on levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighters in australia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e226257. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.6257

University of Chicago Medicine. Is detoxing good for you?

American Cancer Society. Blood donation.

Di Angelantonio E, Thompson SG, Kaptoge S, et al. Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation(INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors. Lancet. 2017;390(10110):2360-2371. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31928-1