Criteria for Blood Donation:

The donors should fulfill the following requirements:

• The donor should be in good health, mentally alert and physically fit.
• The donor shall be in the age group of 18-60 years.
• The donor should not be less than 45 kg. A donor weighing 45 kg can give 350ml blood (8-9ml/kg body weight). Those weighing 60kg or more may give 450ml blood.
• Body temperature: The temperature should be normal (98.2° - 99° Fahrenheit)The pulse should be normal (between 60-100 beats/min and regular)
• The systolic (100-180mm Hg) and diastolic (50-100 mmHg) blood pressure should be within normal limits without medication.
• Haemoglobin should not be less that 12.5gm/100ml for female and should not be less than 13.5gm/100 ml for male.
• Minimum haematocrit – 41% (male) & 38% (female)
• The donor should be free from acute respiratory diseases.
• The donor should be free from any skin disease at the site of phlebotomy.
• The donor should be free from any disease transmissible by blood transfusion.
• The arms and forearms of the donor should be free from skin punctures or scars indicative of professional blood donors or addiction of self injected nareotics.
• The interval between the donation of a unit of blood should be at least 12 weeks. Preparation before donation: Eat a regular meal, avoid fatty food and no alcohol within 12 hrs prior to donation.