To protect your health as a donor, there are minimum and maximum weights to donate.

To make a donation, the minimum weight is 50 kg. We need you to be above a minimum weight because the amount of blood your body contains is related to your weight and height. If our standard donation represents too high a volume, it's not safe for you to donate.

It depends on the type of donor couch…

Yes, just not right away. If you spent more than 72 hours in lockup, you’ll need to wait 12 months from the date you leave due to higher rates of hepatitis B and C and HIV in the prison population. 

Yes, you can. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFASs, are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used since the 1950s in a range of common household products and specialty applications, including in the manufacture of non-stick cookware, fabric, furniture and carpet stain protection applications, and more.

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Yes. Menstruating doesn’t affect your ability to donate. Enjoy your relaxing time on the donation couch and a tasty snack afterwards. As someone who menstruates, it’s a good idea to check out our information about iron. 

Lead is a heavy metal which is toxic to our nervous systems. If someone has more than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of their blood (μg/dL) it can cause digestive, cardiovascular, kidney, reproductive and nervous system problems. The risks are highest for unborn babies, infants and children. 

Fortunately, the levels of lead in the general Australian population have fallen over the…

Unfortunately, no. While we love having children around, we don’t offer any kind of childcare in our donor centres. For everyone's safety, children need to be supervised by an adult who isn’t donating. 

For your safety, there are minimum and maximum ages for donating. The minimum age is 18 and the maximum age is 75 for first-time donors.

Minimum age for donation: 18

Giving blood is one of the exciting things you can do when you turn 18. When you give blood, you give a bit of iron from that blood too. Iron is super important when you’re still growing, which is why…

Maybe. It depends on the type of drug and how and when it was taken. 

We don’t take blood from anyone under the influence of drugs. Being intoxicated affects your ability to understand and answer the donor questionnaire and declaration, as well as your body’s ability to tolerate blood being taken. 

If you’ve injected drugs which weren’t prescribed by a registered medical…

Yes, but if it was recent you may need to wait for a bit. It depends what you got, where and when.   

• Tattoos: You can donate plasma (and show off your new ink!) straight away after a tattoo, as long as it was done in a licensed tattoo parlour in Australia. But, you’ll need to wait one week to give blood or …

No. We don’t take donations from anyone under the influence of alcohol. Being intoxicated affects your ability to understand and answer the donor questionnaire and declaration, as well as your body’s ability to tolerate blood being taken.