1 - If giving blood could affect your own good health, for example

• If you are pregnant or have been pregnant within the last nine months
• If you have certain medical conditions or are taking certain types of medication
• If you have had certain types of surgery in the past 12 months
• If you weigh less than 7st 12lbs (50kg)
• If you are under the age of 17 (extra checks are applied if you are over the age of 66 – please call us for more information)

2 - If your blood could transmit an infection to the person who receives it, for example:

• If you have visited a foreign country within the last 12 months where you may have been exposed to malaria, such as parts of Africa or South America, or within the last 4 weeks where you may have been exposed to West Nile Virus. Please call us for more info.
• If you have ever injected drugs
• If your lifestyle puts you at risk of HIV or hepatitis
• If you have had ear /body piercing or a tattoo within the last year
• If you have received, or think you may have received, a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980
• If you have visited the dentist within the last 24 hours or had a tooth extraction or root treatment in the last 7 days
• If you have been in close contact with someone with a viral infection (such as measles or chicken pox) in the last 4 weeks
• If you yourself have an infection at present eg flu or a cold (even if you are taking antibiotics)