Health Criteria for Blood Donation
These guidelines are designed to ensure that blood recipients are protected from potentially harmful blood products, and that blood donors are protected from harm. Only people in good health are accepted as blood donors.
For your own safety, you should NOT give blood if:
- You have been prescribed medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, fits or asthma.
- You are a pilot or in any other service aircrew occupation.
- You have an occupation where a delayed faint from donating blood could cause a hazard (such as a bus driver, heavy machine operator, etc.) UNLESS you will be off-duty immediately after your donation.
For the safety of others, you should NOT give blood if:
- You or your sexual partner (past or present) has AIDS or tested positive for HIV.
- You are a man who has had sex with another man.
- You have ever accepted payment for sex.
- You have multiple sex partners.
- You carry the hepatitis B or C virus.
- You have ever injected drugs not prescribed by a doctor.
- You are a haemophiliac who has received treatment with clotting factor concentrate.
- You think you need an HIV test.
- You weigh less than 50kg.
- You have donated blood within the previous 16 weeks.
- You have donated blood three times in the previous year.
- You are pregnant.
You should not give blood for ONE YEAR if you have had sex with:
- A man who has had sex with a man (if you are a woman).
- A prostitute.
- A haemophiliac who has been treated with clotting factor concentrate.
- A carrier of hepatitis B or C.
- A person who has injected drugs not prescribed by a doctor.
or if you:
- Injured yourself with a needle or other sharp object contaminated with blood of another person.
- Had acupuncture, tattooing, ear or skin-piercing, tissue or hair transplantation.
Media Centre
Through our events and activities we intend to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago. Visit our media centre regularly since it's constantly updated with photo galleries and videos of past events as well as updates and details on current and future events.
