Plasma Donation Eligibility: Are You Eligible to Donate?

Before you book your first plasma donation, please review our plasma donor eligibility criteria. Meeting these plasma donation eligibility requirements helps ensure a safe and successful donation – for you and the patients who rely on plasma therapies.

Eligibility criteria list:

  • Be 17–68 years old to qualify as a plasma donor.
    At our Winnipeg U of M centre, donors must be above 18 years of age.
  • Weigh between 50 kg and 180 kg.
    This weight requirement ensures adequate blood volume for the plasmapheresis procedure.
  • Bring valid photo ID, proof of address, and your Social Insurance Card to your appointment.
    These documents verify your identity and confirm plasma donation eligibility in Canada under national regulatory standards.
  • Have a permanent address within 100 kilometers of the Grifols plasma centre where you plan to donate.
  • Qualify to donate.
    This involves a process that includes a questionnaire, an interview, a medical examination, and testing on two separate occasions within a 26-week period.
  • Have eaten a full, healthy, protein-rich meal within two hours before donation.
  • Have not had a tattoo or piercing done in the past 6 months.
  • Have not donated blood in the past 56 days.
  • Have not donated plasma within the past 48 hours.

 

These general health requirements to donate plasma help protect both first-time donors and repeat contributors. If you are unsure about eligibility or have questions about plasma donation eligibility in Canada please contact a centre near you.

Frequently Asked Questions – Eligibility

You must be between the ages of 17-68 years to be eligible to donate plasma.
Note that our Winnipeg U of M centre requires donors to be over 18 years of age.

Alcohol dependency or alcoholism is not accepted. History of alcoholism, even if recovering/recovered is not accepted.

When taking oral antibiotics, you are not eligible to donate plasma until 48 hours after your last dose. If you have a current infection, you are not eligible to donate.

*Some topical creams are accepted, please contact your center to inquire.

If you have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation you are not eligible to donate plasma.

There are multiple bleeding disorders that can be diagnosed, any/all bleeding disorders are not accepted for plasma donation.

Anyone that is currently pregnant or has had a pregnancy in the last 6 months is not eligible to donate. After childbirth, donors are asked to wait 6 months before returning to donate.

Breastfeeding is accepted if you are 6 months postpartum.

Individuals who use cannabis may be eligible to donate. At the time of donation, donors must not be intoxicated as this prevents us from obtaining informed consent.

Donations are accepted with a history of certain types of cancer. You must be at least 5 years from curative treatment and in remission during that period and bring a letter from a physician or specialist indicating the above and suitability to donate plasma.

Anyone with a diagnosis of COPD is not eligible to donate plasma.

If you are infected with COVID-19 you must wait 10 days after full recovery or 10 days after a positive test, whichever is longer.

You must wait 6 months after the procedure to be eligible to donate plasma.

*If you are a qualified donor, you may be eligible to return after 4 months. Contact your center to inquire.

Anyone with a diagnosis of Crohn’s is not eligible to donate plasma.

Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD/vCJD) is a human variant form of Bovine Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease. If you have lived at the below places during the mentioned time frame, you are:

Eligible to donate plasma:

  • During the period January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2007, anyone who spent 5 years or more cumulatively in Western Europe- Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg.
  • During the period January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1996, anyone who spent 6 months or more cumulatively in Saudi Arabia.
  • During the period January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1996, anyone who spent 3 months or more cumulatively in France.
  • Since January 1, 1980, anyone who received a blood transfusion or blood product in France or Western Europe.

Not eligible to donate plasma:

  • During the period January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1996, anyone who spent 3 months or more cumulatively in the UK- England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.
  • Since January 1, 1980, anyone who received a blood transfusion or blood product in the UK.
     

Please contact your center to confirm the deferral period related to dental procedures as it may vary case by case.

Type I diabetics are not eligible to donate. If you are taking insulin, you are not eligible to donate plasma. 

History of a heart attack makes you ineligible to donate plasma.

All applicant donors must be able to read and comprehend the health history questionnaire and consent forms available in English or French languages. In the interest of safety, individuals who are unable to understand the safety questions and materials appropriately may be deferred from donating.

For the safety of our donors and patients, certain medications or combinations of medications may require a deferral from donating plasma. Please bring a list of all medications with you during your visit.

Medications are accepted on a case-by-case basis and follow up questions may be asked regarding mental health status. If you are taking 3 or more medications for mental health, we suggest contacting your center to get more information regarding your eligibility.

Children may only accompany you to the plasma center if they are supervised by another adult in the waiting area. Alternatively, children aged 12 years or older may wait quietly in the waiting area unaccompanied. Under no circumstances can minors accompany their parents in the screening and donation areas.

You are not eligible to donate if you are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

You must wait 6 months after getting a tattoo or piercing to be eligible to donate

Please check with the centre ahead of booking an appointment.