Exclusion criteria for blood donation

Generally, you are temporarily barred from donating blood if any of the following apply:

• You are feeling unwell or have cold symptoms or a fever.
• You have taken medication, undergone a medical procedure or been vaccinated within the last four weeks. Reason: people are ineligible to donate blood for a certain amount of time after taking certain medications or receiving vaccinations. Further clarification of your specific case is necessary to determine whether you are eligible to donate. Please contact your regional blood transfusion service for this purpose.
• You have had a dental or dental hygiene treatment within the last 14 days. Reason: these treatments can result in minor injuries. Generally, the following waiting periods apply: 24 hours after plaque removal, one week after extraction of a tooth, two weeks after the end of a course of antibiotics and the cessation of symptoms.
• You have had a new tattoo or piercing done or undergone an acupuncture treatment within the last four months. To rule out the possibility of an inflammation or infection, a four-month waiting period applies.
• You have spent time outside of Switzerland within the last six months. Reason: in many countries, there is an elevated risk of the transmission of an infectious disease. To eliminate, as far as possible, the risk of the transmission of a disease to blood transfusion recipients, there are waiting periods for people returning from certain countries. Please contact your regional blood transfusion service about this.
• You have had sexual contact with multiple partners in succession in the last 12 months, or with a new partner in the last four months.