What happens if you donate blood while sick?

Having a cold or the flu doesn’t affect the blood you’re donating, but blood donation centers turn away sick individuals from donating in an effort to reduce the spread of the flu. If you are running a fever, you will not be permitted to donate blood.

Is it safe to donate blood with a cold?

You must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection.

What illnesses stop you giving blood?

You must never donate if:

• You are HIV positive or receiving treatment for HIV.
• You are a hepatitis B carrier.
• You are a hepatitis C carrier.
• You are HTLV positive.
• You have ever been diagnosed with syphilis, even if treated.
• You have ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once.

Can you donate blood if you have flu?

Not feeling well, sore throat, cold, respiratory infection, flu, cold sore. Can donate when symptom-free (about 7 days).

How long after being sick can you donate blood?

You should not donate blood when you’re sick. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood.

Can I donate blood with a sinus infection?

Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough (bringing up phlegm). Wait if you do not feel well on the day of donation. Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection.

Can you give blood if you have a cough?

You can’t donate blood if you have a fever, a productive cough, if you do not feel well, or if you are taking antibiotics to treat a sinus, throat, or lung infection.

Does giving blood lower your immune system?

There is no evidence blood donation weakens the immune system. Blood donation is needed to keep the supply available to patients who need it. To best prepare for your donation get sleep, eat a good meal, and drink fluids.

Can we donate blood in fever?

Any person suffering from fever, cold, or a productive cough should ideally avoid donating blood until he or she feels better. However, an individual, after exposure to someone with flu, can go ahead and donate blood if s/he feels no symptoms.

Why can’t you give blood with a cold sore?

If you had a cold sore in the past and you have a cold sore now, you can give blood as long as you are well and if the sores are healing (i.e. scabbing over and there is no tingling) and there is no infection (signs of which may include redness and / or oozing).

Why would a blood donor be rejected?

You will be denied from donating blood if: You have a fever at the time of donation, state that you do not feel well, or are taking antibiotics. You may be denied if you have a history of injection drug use or a history of selected sexually transmitted diseases.

Do you have to be sick to donate blood?

Advertisement. You should not donate blood when you’re sick. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood.

How long do you have to be free of symptoms before giving blood?

In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood. Symptoms of the flu include a cough, fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and sore throat.

Is it safe to faint after giving blood?

Giving this amount is safe and doesn’t typically cause any ill effects. Infrequently (e.g. 1 percent of donations at our Blood Centre) the donor may experience side reactions during or after the donation: weakness, dizziness, cold sweat, fainting and other symptoms).

How long do you have to have a cold to donate blood?

In fact, the National Institutes of Health says that you should be free of cold and flu symptoms for at least 48 hours before you give blood.