Blood Donation FAQs

Some cancers and cancer treatments harm blood cells. If red blood cells drop, a patient feels weak, tired and short of breath. If platelets or plasma proteins decrease, a patient may bleed. 

It is still safe to donate blood during this time. MD Anderson is accepting blood donations. Find out where to donate blood, including current locations and operating hours.

If you are in good health and you meet all requirements, you may donate:

• Whole blood every 56 days (8 weeks)
• Platelets once every 7 days but, no more than 24 times in one year
• Platelets and red blood cells together every 56 days (8 weeks)
• Double red blood cells every 112 days (16 weeks)

There are almost no risks to you. Except for a slight discomfort at the beginning of the collection, most donors report no problems. You cannot become infected with any new disease by donating.

People who received a tattoo or piercing at a state-licensed and regulated facility are now eligible to donate anytime. People who received a tattoo at a non-regulated facility must wait 12 months before they can donate.

If your diabetes is being treated and is under control, you are most likely able to donate blood. You should let your doctor know that you plan to donate.

Most medications, including those treating high blood pressure and cholesterol, are acceptable. Call us in advance at 713-792-7777 if you have any questions. It is always a good idea to bring a list of your medications when you come to donate. Certain aspirin and herbal products deactivate platelets. 

To donate platelets, you need to wait 48 hours after taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products such as, ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Aleve, Excedrin and herbal supplements containing, ginseng, gingko biloba, garlique or ginger. Energy drinks that contain any of the previous products will also defer you for 48 hours for platelet donations. These include Monster, NOS, Rockstar, Full Throttle, AMP, Sobe, TAB Energy.

We welcome blood donations from donors 17 years old and older. You are never too old to donate. If you are in good health, and qualify for other eligibility guidelines, you can donate blood regardless of age. A number of regular donors over the age of 80 continue to help our cancer patients.

• Whole blood: Collection takes only about 7 to 12 minutes, the complete process takes about 20 to 40 minutes
• Platelets and platelets plus red blood cells: Collection takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours, the complete process takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours
• Double red cells: Collection taking 25 to 35 minutes, the complete process takes between 35 and 45 minutes

Red blood cells are good for 42 days. Platelets are good for five days. Plasma is frozen and can be used for one year.

No, however, after your donation you can log into our website with your Donor ID as your user name and your birthday (mm/dd/yyy) as your password to retreive your blood type. 

Every donation undergoes a battery of tests (including infectious disease testing) each time you donate. All tests must be negative in order to be used by our patients. Blood is separated into components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Education Handout  

MD Anderson does not take direct donations intended for a specific patient. We also discourage self-donations.

The MD Anderson Blood Bank, like all blood centers in the United States, gets frequent updates on areas of concern from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you were wondering whether your travel history might make you ineligible, please call us at 713-792-7777.

Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. The MD Anderson Blood Bank now accepts previously deferred donors with a history of solid tumor or skin cancer diagnosis as long as the treatment has been completed and the donor has been in remission or free of disease for more than two years. Survivors of blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, and other blood disorders, remain permanently deferred. If you've been previously deferred and are now eligible under these guidelines, please call 346-699-8132 to remove the deferral.