Understanding plasma donation eligibility requirements can mean the difference between earning $800-1200 monthly or being permanently disqualified. This comprehensive guide covers all requirements, disqualifying conditions, medication restrictions, and strategies to optimize your eligibility for maximum earning potential.
Answer these questions to get a preliminary assessment of your plasma donation eligibility.
Minimum: 18 years old (19 in AL, NE)
Maximum: 65 years old (varies by center)
Special: 16-17 with parental consent in some states
Minimum: 110 pounds (50 kg)
Optimal: 175+ pounds for maximum volume
Stability: Weight must be stable (±10 lbs)
Photo ID: Driver's license, passport, state ID
SSN card: Physical Social Security card
Address proof: Recent utility bill or lease
Physical exam: Vital signs, basic health check
Blood tests: Protein, hematocrit, disease screening
Health history: Medical questionnaire review
HIV/AIDS: Any positive test result
Hepatitis B: Chronic or surface antigen positive
Hepatitis C: Any positive antibody test
HTLV: Human T-lymphotropic virus
Heart disease: Recent heart attack, bypass surgery
Uncontrolled hypertension: >180/100 consistently
Arrhythmias: Serious heart rhythm disorders
Blood clots: Recent DVT or pulmonary embolism
Active cancer: Any current cancer treatment
Autoimmune diseases: Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
Immunodeficiency: Primary or secondary
Organ transplants: Any organ recipient
Pregnancy: Any stage of pregnancy
Breastfeeding: Varies by center policy
Recent childbirth: 6+ weeks recovery required
Pregnancy complications: Recent pregnancy loss
Birth control: Pills, IUDs, implants
Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs (stable dose)
Blood pressure: ACE inhibitors, beta blockers
Thyroid medication: Levothyroxine, etc.
Acid reflux: PPIs, H2 blockers
Allergy medications: Antihistamines, nasal sprays
Blood thinners: Warfarin, heparin, Xarelto
Immunosuppressants: Steroids, methotrexate
Insulin: Any form for diabetes
Antibiotics: Temporary 7-14 day deferral
Acne medications: Accutane (permanent)
Growth hormones: Any HGH treatments
Recent travel deferrals: Visits to countries with malaria, Zika, or other infectious disease risks result in temporary deferrals ranging from 28 days to 3 years.
High-risk countries (12-month deferral): Parts of Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia with endemic diseases affecting blood supply safety.
Military service deferrals: Service in certain locations or time periods may result in permanent or extended deferrals due to exposure risks.
Lifestyle factors: IV drug use (permanent deferral), recent tattoos/piercings (3-12 months), recent surgery (varies by procedure), and certain sexual risk factors.
Always provide accurate health information. Lying can result in permanent disqualification and legal issues if discovered later.
If switching medications, consult centers about timing. Some switches require waiting periods or gradual transitions.
Maintain healthy weight, blood pressure, and protein levels through proper diet and lifestyle choices before screening.
Plan tattoos, travel, and elective procedures around donation schedules to minimize earning interruptions.
Call centers with specific questions about your situation before visiting to avoid wasted trips and disappointment.
Keep centers informed of health changes, new medications, or travel plans that might affect eligibility.
Common temporary deferrals: Low protein (1-2 weeks), recent illness (1-4 weeks), tattoos/piercings (3-12 months), travel (28 days-3 years), minor surgery (2-12 weeks).
Deferral tracking: Centers maintain detailed records of deferrals and automatically calculate return eligibility dates. Some deferrals require medical clearance to return.
Optimizing return: Use deferral periods to address underlying issues - improve nutrition for protein deferrals, ensure complete recovery from illness, or plan travel better.
Multiple deferrals: Repeated deferrals for the same issue may trigger longer deferrals or require medical documentation to continue donating.
Physical examination: Basic vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature), weight verification, visual assessment of general health, and arm/vein inspection for donation suitability.
Laboratory tests: Protein levels (must be 6.0+ g/dL), hematocrit levels (varies by gender), infectious disease screening (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), and ABO blood typing.
Health questionnaire: Comprehensive medical history including surgeries, medications, travel, sexual history, drug use, and current symptoms or conditions.
Ongoing monitoring: Regular re-screening (annually), protein checks at each visit, periodic physical exams, and immediate health assessments if concerns arise.
Center consultations: Most centers offer phone consultations to discuss specific eligibility questions before scheduling screening appointments.
Medical professionals: Your healthcare provider can help assess donation compatibility with your health conditions and medications.
Second opinions: If one center defers you, another center may have different policies or interpretations of guidelines (within FDA regulations).
Appeals process: Some deferrals can be appealed with additional medical documentation or clarification from healthcare providers.
False information: Never lie on health questionnaires or hide medical conditions. This can result in permanent disqualification and potential legal issues.
Medication hiding: Failing to disclose medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, can be dangerous and disqualifying.
Health changes: Not reporting new health conditions, medications, or procedures between visits can jeopardize your safety and eligibility.
Document fraud: Using fake or altered documents for identification or address verification results in permanent disqualification and possible legal action.
Use our eligibility checker to assess your qualification status and start earning through plasma donation!
Ready to qualify for plasma donation? Use our checker above, then explore our center locator and earning optimization guides to maximize your income potential.