I was deferred for a recent tattoo or piercing. When can I donate?
What this deferral usually means
When sterile single-use equipment is used at a regulated facility, there is often no wait. Otherwise a short waiting period covers a small infection risk.
What to ask the center
Ask whether your state regulates the facility and whether single-use equipment removes the wait.
When you can try again
Commonly three months when a wait applies, counted from the date you got the tattoo or piercing.
Set a return reminderPrepare for your comeback
- Note the date and place you got the tattoo or piercing
- Find out whether the facility was state-regulated
- Set a reminder for three months out if a wait applies
Other ways to help
Want the eligibility detail? Can I donate blood if I got a tattoo?
Related
Find a place to donate
Search by city, ZIP, state, or center name, or use your location to see the closest centers.
Our no-monetization pledge
BloodBanker does not use affiliate links, paid rankings, or ads on mission pages. We do not sell donor health information. We link to official donation organizations so people can donate safely and locally.
Read the full pledgeSources and review
The guidance on this page reflects published criteria from these organizations. Eligibility and procedures vary by center and country, so confirm specifics with your donation center.
- American Red Cross
- AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Blood Donation
- Canadian Blood Services
- Last reviewed:
- Next review due:
- Reviewed by:
- Reviewed against American Red Cross, AABB, and U.S. FDA donor guidance
- Confidence:
- High confidence