Criteria for Blood donations
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Any healthy person, meeting the donor criteria determined by the Israeli Ministry of Health, may donate blood.
General information:
The regulations that determine the blood donation policy in Israel, by which the blood services of Magen David Adom operate, are determined by the Ministry of Health, who rely on the recommendations made by an advisory committee on transfusion medicine.
The regulations are based on guidelines and regulations that exist in the most developed countries around the world, and are determined by organizations such as the FDA and the European authorities.
The purpose is to protect the health of the blood donors and to protect the blood recipients, from transfusion-transmitted diseases.
Even the most advanced tests, that are performed both in Israel and around the world, for the detection of transfusion transmitted diseases (especially Hepatitis and HIV), are not able to detect donors during the “window period”, which is the period from the time of infection until the infection is actually detected in the blood.
The risk of such a donation, is greater in populations and individuals who are at high risk of contracting such diseases.
Since every unit donated is divided into 3 components, which are given to 3 different patients, the potential for damage is highly substantial. There will be no justification, under any circumstances, towards the patients who will be infected, for using contaminated blood units, if it turns out that the system did not take all precautionary actions to prevent contamination.
However, there are a number of restrictions, some of which are listed below:
1. Donor's age:
1.1. First time donors: age 18-60 years.
1.2. Donors aged 17-18y are required to bring a letter of consent signed by a parent or legal guardian.
1.3. First time donors over the age of 60 and return donors over the age of 65, are required to present a medical approval letter from their personal physician, once a year and must fulfill all other criteria for blood donors. The blood donation must be carried out at a fixed donation site and in the presence of a medical staff member certified in performing basic CPR.
2. People with disabilities/impairment of any kind, can send questions to b101b@mda.org.il for answers from a certified doctor who specializes in blood donations before they arrive at the donation site, including listing the accessible donation sites.
3. People using crutches – are allowed to donate blood at a fixed donation site, after approval from a blood services medical authority, and considering the donor meets the criteria for blood donors. It is NOT allowed to donate at a mobile site.
4. Make sure that at least 3 months have passed since the last blood donation.
5. Donor's weight should be over 50Kg (110 pounds).
6. Blood pressure will be checked on site, and should not exceed 180/100 or be below 100/60.
7. Women may donate blood during menstruation.
8. Childbirth – a donation may be given six months after giving birth.
9. Treatment with antibiotic - Blood donation is possible after completion of the treatment and full recovery, depending on the illness.
10. Dental procedures – Blood may be donated 24 hours after dental hygienist's treatment, 7 days after root canal treatment or tooth extraction and a month after a tooth implant.
11. People suffering from high blood pressure treated with β (beta) blockers may donate blood if pulse rate is 70 BPM or above.
12. People who have suffered from epilepsy, may donate blood, provided they are not taking medication for epilepsy and at least 5 years have passed since the last attack.
13. Hepatitis:
13.1. A person who has suffered from Hepatitis/jaundice for an unknown reason – may donate blood two years after recovery.
13.2. A person who has suffered from Hepatitis A - may donate blood 12 months after recovery.
13.3. A person who has suffered from Hepatitis B or C – may NOT donate blood.
14. Exposure due to contact with a hepatitis patient – please check with the medical authority at the Blood Services Center.
15. In case of preventive vaccination against:
15.1. Hepatitis B (not following exposure) - wait 7 days following vaccination.
15.2. Influenza/ flu, Tetanus, Meningitis – You may donate immediately after the vaccination (provided there are no symptoms).
15.3. Rubella/Measles/Mumps/Chickenpox/Yellow fever – You may donate 4 weeks after vaccination.
16. Asthma - Blood may be donated providing the donor is feeling well, has not had an attack for at least a week prior to the donation, and is not being treated by steroids (in the form of pills/tablets).
17. Tuberculosis and Brucellosis – Blood may be donated 2 years after full recovery.
18. Diabetes – Blood may be donated provided glucose levels are stable and controlled by diet or medication (not including insulin).
Diabetic patients treated with Insulin can not donate blood.
19. Localized tumors with negligible metastatic potential (e.g. basal cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ of the cervix) - may donate blood after the removal of the tumor and full recovery.
Other tumors – At least 5 years after completion of treatment and full recovery.
20. Peptic ulcer - Blood may be donated providing there is no bleeding and hemoglobin levels are within normal limits.
21. Chronic Diseases – requires approval of a medical authority at the Blood Services Center.
22. Medications – according to the Blood Services guidelines.
23. Blood/blood components transfusion – Blood may be donated provided at least 4 months have passed since receiving a transfusion.
24. Tattoo, piercing, permanent make-up, endoscopy with biopsy - Blood may be donated provided at least 4 months have passed since the procedure.
25. Visit to malaria endemic countries - Blood may be donated provided at least 1 year has passed since returning from endemic area
26. Residence / stay exceeding 6 months in malaria endemic countries or suffering from Malaria disease - Blood may be donated provided at least 3 years have passed since returning or recovering from the disease.
27. Visit/stay/residence in countries with high incidence of AIDS (over 1% of population, according to the World Health Organization's definition) - Blood may be donated provided at least 3 months have passed since leaving the endemic area.
Malaria/AIDS endemic areas are listed in the following website: www.cdc.gov.
28. Having high risk sexual relations (anal sex and/or drug influenced) with a new partner or several partners: Can donate blood if 3 months have passed since last sexual contact.
29. People who have high risk sexual relations as detailed above, can donate blood even before 3 months have passed and their The Plasma unit will be frozen and quarantined. If another blood donation will be given again after 3 months and the lab results for transfusion transmitted diseases are negative, the frozen Plasma unit will be used for treating patients.
In order to participate in this project, answer "yes" to question 2.18A in the questionnaire. "No" answer to the question will be considered a refusal.
30. In addition, there are other situations preventing blood donation, some of which are listed below:
30.1. Severe adverse reaction, such as loss of consciousness or convulsions, following a previous blood donation.
30.2. Pregnancy.
30.3. 12 hours prior to flying / scuba diving / extreme sports activity or engaging in professions requiring enhanced concentration (such as Public transport drivers on duty, working in heights etc.).
30.4. During acute illness.
30.5. People suffering from a heart condition or cardiac arrhythmia that requires medical treatment (excluding mitral valve prolapse and corrected birth defects).
30.6. Malignant diseases - Disease or history of hematologic or virus-induced malignant disease (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin disease).
30.7. Anemia or a bleeding tendency.
31. Situations in which the blood unit cannot be used for transfusion:
31.1. The donor has received growth hormone or brain tissue derived from a human source (i.e. cornea transplant, Dura matter).
31.2. Someone in the donor's immediate family (up to second degree relations) is known to suffer from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or has been told that the family is at high risk for the disease.
31.3. The donor practices in a life -style that in any way may increase the risk for the blood
recipient, such as: intravenous drug use/sniffing, receiving payment for sexual relationship.
32. Anyone who has had sexual relations with people whom sections 27,28,30 apply to them may give blood – provided 3 months have passed since last sexual contact.
33. Tropical viruses (such as Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya):
33.1. May donate blood 4 months after full recovery
33.2. May donate blood 4 weeks after leaving the tropical viruses endemic country.
The Tropical viruses endemic areas are listed in the following website: www.cfc.gov.
33.3. Women: May donate blood 4 weeks after sexual contact with a man who has traveled to or resided in an area with Zika within 3 months prior to that sexual contact.
The Criteria Was examined and approved by:
Date Signature Name Position
Dr. Veronica Gendelman Medical Assistant
Valid Date: 11-02-2024
