Diabetics are eligable as long as they've only used human insulin. They have a list of what's OK at the centers, so check it out. A lot of people I've talked to didn't think diabetics could donate.
You're not eligable if you've gotten a tattoo or been otherwise poked by a non-medical needle in the past year.
You're not eligable if you've had your first outbreak of an STD in the past year, or a recurring outbreak within the past 6 months. If you've recieved certain immunizations within the past 6 weeks you won't be eligable to give blood, and there's a time limit on how often you can give. It varies, but I think it's about 6 weeks minimum, and it's generally longer in my experience.
Then there's the list of foreign countries that makes you ineligable, and if you've had sex with another man (assuming you're a man) or with a man who's had sex with another man since 1977. Oh, and experimental drugs and some male fertility drugs also disqualify you.
I know they screen you for all this when you get there, but given how busy they're going to be, don't go if you know you can't give. I'll try to find a site that lists the questionarre entire, but it may take a couple minutes. |
