While most people are excellent donor candidates, certain medical conditions may temporarily prevent some from donating blood. For example, individuals who recently got a tattoo have to wait a year before giving blood; those who have a cold must wait until the symptoms are gone; those who have had a sexually transmitted disease need to wait a year after it's been treated.

Some people are permanently prevented from giving blood.* They include:

• People who have used intravenous drugs (illegal IV drugs).
• Men who have had sex with another man since 1977.
• Individuals who have had myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass.
• People with multiple sclerosis.
• Hemophiliacs.
• People who have suffered a stroke.
• People diagnosed with hepatitis at any time after their 11th birthday.
• Individuals having a positive antibody test for HIV (AIDS virus).
• People with babesiosis of Chagas disease.
• Men and women who had sex for money or drugs any time since 1977.
• People who have taken Tegison for psoriasis.
• People who have Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) and/or people with an immediate family member with CJD.

Learn more at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Eligibility Guidelines. If you're unsure about being a blood donor candidate, check with your physician.