Detailed Eligibility
Criteria
To donate, individuals must meet criteria that ensure that their donation is safe.
You can check if you meet the basic criteria by taking our Eligibility Quiz.
Otherwise, keep reading to find a full list of Detailed Eligibility Criteria.
If you have any questions about the following criteria, please call 0800 GIVE BLOOD and ask to speak with a nurse.
Painkillers
Please call your local Donor Centre or 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) and ask to speak with a nurse to find out if you are eligible.
Parkinson's Disease
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you will be permanently ineligible to donate.
This is to protect your health and safety due to the mobility problems caused by Parkinson’s Disease, which may create a risk after giving blood.
Pituitary Gland
If the tumour you have is benign, you can donate blood as long as you are otherwise fit and well. If you had a surgery for this tumour before 1990 you will not be eligible to give blood.
Pneumonia
If you are fully recovered and no underlying medical or related condition caused the pneumonia, we will ask you to wait until 28 days after full recovery and completion of antibiotic treatment.
If you have any other underlying medical condition, this will need to be discussed with a NZBS Medical Officer.
Pneumothorax
If the pneumothorax was spontaneous and not due to emphysema, you will be able to donate after full recovery. If you had a traumatic pneumothorax and do not have emphysema, you will be able to donate 3 months after the injury and complete recovery.
If you have a pneumothorax and emphysema you will not be eligible to give blood.
Polycythaemia (Rubra) Vera
Polycythaemia (rubra) vera is a disease of the bone marrow causing over-production of red blood cells. One of the treatments for this condition is regular removal of blood (venesection) and your doctor may have even referred you to the NZ Blood Service for venesection. Due to the underlying condition affecting your bone marrow, your donation cannot be used for transfusion.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you cannot donate blood. This is to avoid any stresses on the mother's or baby's circulation, or on the mother’s iron levels. Following a full term pregnancy, you’ll have to wait nine months after giving birth before you may donate blood or plasma.
See Miscarriage or Termination.
Propecia
If you are taking it for hair loss and do not have any other systemic condition you will have to wait for 28 days after the last dose before you can donate blood.
Other antiandrogen medication may rule you out from donating blood. Please call your local Donor Centre or 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) and ask to speak with a nurse.
Prostate Conditions
If you have benign prostatic hypertrophy (non-malignant increases in size of prostate gland) and are taking alpha blockers for this, you may be able to donate.
If you have or had prostate cancer in the last 5 years, you will not be eligible to donate.
Psoriasis
If the psoriasis is mild and you are not taking any tablet treatment, and the condition does not affect the front of the elbow at the site used to insert the blood collection needle, you will be able to give blood.
If you have more severe or generalized psoriasis or are taking oral medicines to treat the condition, we will ask you to wait for 28 days after treatment is completed and symptoms reduced to a mild level.
In the case of some medicines, a longer waiting period may be required. Please call your local Donor Centre or 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) and ask to speak with a nurse to find out if you are eligible.