High or Low iron

Anaemia

You can give blood if the anaemia has been treated effectively and you no longer require treatment and the Haemoglobin (Hb) test carried out before giving blood shows that your Hb is in the acceptable range for donation.

You can give blood 12 months after finishing iron tablets if you had iron deficiency anaemia.

You cannot give blood if you are having medical investigations for anaemia or receiving treatment for anaemia.

You cannot give blood if the anaemia is persistent.

You cannot give blood if you have Pernicious Anaemia.

You cannot give blood if you are taking prescribed iron tablets or if you have been advised to take iron tablets to prevent anaemia.

Haemochromatosis

You can give blood if:

-you are positive for the hereditary Haemochromatosis gene

and

-you do not require venesection

and

-you have not developed iron overload

and

-you have no complications of Haemochromatosis

OR

You can give blood if:

-You have been diagnosed with Haemochromatosis

and

-You have donated in the last 5 years

and

-You have no complications of Haemochromatosis

and

-You do not require more than 4 venesections a year

Please phone our donor helpline with any other questions about haemochromatosis 1800 731 137

Click here for more information

The minimum Hb levels needed to give blood are:

12.5 g/dl in women

13.5 g/dl in men