Can You Donate Blood If You Have Tattoos or Piercings?

If you’ve ever wondered if you can donate blood if you have tattoos or piercings, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions potential donors ask, and one of the most misunderstood. 

The good news is, having body art usually does not prevent you from donating blood. In fact, many blood donors have tattoos and piercings. 

Check out the most recent blood donation requirements for all the latest blood donation criteria. But read on for more info about donating blood with tattoos and piercings.

Tattoos and Blood Donation: What You Need to Know

The idea that tattoos disqualify you from donating blood is outdated. Today, blood centers like Vitalant let people with tattoos donate as long as certain safety guidelines are met. It isn’t whether you have a tattoo, but when and where you received it.

In the U.S., you can typically donate blood after getting a tattoo (or permanent make-up or micro-blading) as long as:

• They were applied at a state-regulated or licensed facility.
• Sterile, single use needles and ink were used.

If you got your tattoo in one of these states or Washington, D.C., there’s a waiting period of three months: Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming. Otherwise, if you meet the other two bulleted requirements, there is no waiting period. 

As you can see, for many donors, there is no waiting period at all if the tattoo was done in a regulated facility, or the waiting period is only three months. These rules exist to reduce the risk of bloodborne infections.

So, if you’re asking, can you donate blood if you have tattoos? The answer is yes, in most cases.

What About Piercings?

Piercings are treated similarly to tattoos. If your piercing was performed by a professional using sterile equipment, you are eligible to donate blood without delay. (Piercings done at Claire’s stores and similar establishments are acceptable.) Otherwise, we’ll ask you to wait three months. 

Why These Blood Donation Requirements Exist

Blood donation requirements are designed to protect both donors and recipients. Screening guidelines help ensure all donated blood is safe and healthy for patients who need it, such as trauma victims, cancer patients and people undergoing surgery.

These blood safety guidelines are regulated by the FDA and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eligibility rules and brief waiting periods are preventative, and are based on medical evidence and risk factors, not personal appearance.

Tattoos, Piercings and Saving Lives

Having tattoos or piercings does not, alone, define your ability to donate blood — it may just temporarily delay you from giving. If you’re healthy overall, and meet age and weight guidelines and the other blood donation requirements, your donation can make a lifesaving difference.

If you’ve ever hesitated because of body art, now is the time to reconsider. The next time someone asks, “Can you donate blood if you have tattoos?” you can confidently say yes and help spread awareness.

Tattoos don’t stop generosity, and neither should outdated myths. 

Schedule your blood donation today.