Blood Donation: Disease Disqualifications

Course Objectives

Explain the medical and health criteria that determine blood donation eligibility, including temporary and permanent deferrals.
Identify common medical conditions, infections, and medications that impact donor eligibility and explain their effects on donor and recipient safety.
Demonstrate effective communication strategies for phlebotomists to explain eligibility criteria and deferrals respectfully and clearly to donors.
Apply knowledge of donor screening guidelines to support safe blood collection practices and protect the integrity of the blood supply.

Course Content

Course Creator: Nichelle Volker RMA

Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour

Pace Course #: 586-2511-25

Key Terms:
Eligibility criteria
Temporary deferral
Permanent deferral
Donor screening
Hemoglobin

Outline:

Introduction
- Donation qualification
- Why disease screening matters
- What is disease disqualification
- General rules for all medical conditions
- Medication disqualification
- Travel disqualification
Disease disqualification
- HIV/AIDS
  - What
  - Why
- Hepatitis A, B, C
  - What
  - Why
- Tuberculosis
  - What
  - Why
- West Nile Virus
  - What
  - Why
- Zika Virus
  - What
  - Why
- Ebola Virus
  - What
  - Why
- Measles
  - What
  - Why
- Infections/Fevers
  - What
  - Why
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  - What
  - Why
- Hemochromatosis
  - What
  - Why
- Sickle Cell Disease
  - What
  - Why
- Anemia
  - What
  - Why
- Blood Transfusion Patients
  - What
  - Why
- Bleeding disorders
  - What
  - Why
- Diabetes
  - What
  - Why
- Heart Disease
  - What
  - Why
- Cancer
  - What
  - Why
- Asthma
  - What
  - Why
- Hypo/hypertension
  - What
  - Why
- Heart Murmurs/Valve Disorders
  - What
  - Why
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
  - What
  - Why
How the Phlebotomist fits in
- Safety
- Communication
- Handling deferrals
Conclusion

References:

1. American Red Cross. (2019). Eligibility Requirements. Redcrossblood.org. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

2. American Red Cross. (n.d.). Eligibility Criteria: Alphabetical. Www.redcrossblood.org. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html

3. Mayo Clinic. (2024a, February 9). HIV/AIDS - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524

4. Mayo Clinic. (2022c, August 27). Hepatitis A - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a/symptoms-causes/syc-20367007

5. Mayo Clinic. (2022a). Hepatitis B - Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/symptoms-causes/syc-20366802

6. Mayo Clinic. (2023e, August 23). Hepatitis C - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278

7. Mayo Clinic. (2023c, February 9). Malaria. Mayo Clinic; Mayo clinic staff. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

8. Mayo Clinic. (2025a). Tuberculosis. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250

9. CDC. (2024, May 14). About West Nile. West Nile Virus. https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/about/index.html

10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, November 5). About Zika Virus Disease. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/index.html

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a, April 23). Ebola Disease Basics. Ebola; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/about/index.html

12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b, May 29). Measles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html

13. Medlineplus. (2019). Fever. Medlineplus; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/fever.html

14. Mayo Clinic. (2023b, January 28). Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20371226

15. Mayo Clinic. (2023a, January 6). Hemochromatosis - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351443

16. Mayo Clinic. (2025c, May 17). Sickle Cell Anemia. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic Staff. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876

17. Mayo Clinic. (2023d, May 11). Anemia - Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

18. Mayo Clinic. (2022b, April 27). Blood Transfusion. Mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-transfusion/about/pac-20385168

19. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Disorders. (2023, August 3). Bleeding Disorders - What Are Bleeding Disorders | NHLBI, NIH. Www.nhlbi.nih.gov. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/bleeding-disorders

20. Mayo Clinic. (2024c, March 27). Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444

21. Mayo Clinic . (2024, August 13). Heart Disease. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118

22. Mayo Clinic . (2022, December 7). Cancer - Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20370588

23. Mayo Clinic. (2025b, March 8). Asthma. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653

24. Mayo Clinic. (2024b, February 28). Blood pressure chart: What your reading means. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/blood-pressure/art-20050982

25. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Heart valve disease - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-valve-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353727

26. DermNet. (n.d.). Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa): A Complete Picture - DermNet. Dermnetnz.org. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/hidradenitis-suppurativa