Can You Donate Blood If You Have a Tattoo? Here’s the Answer!

Don’t let a little ink deter you from donating blood. You can donate blood if you have a tattoo.

If you get a tattoo from an unlicensed tattoo facility or under non-sterile conditions, you will need to wait 1 whole year before you can donate blood. Hepatitis is the main concern for unregulated facilities because they may not have control over the infections that could be transmitted through a needle.

According to the American Red Cross, there are 11 states that don’t regulate tattoo facilities; Washington is not one of them so you should be able to donate soon after receiving a tattoo. It is always important to let them know during your health screening.

According to the FDA, someone in America needs bloods every two seconds so don’t be turned away before you know the facts. The American Red Cross is the a place to donate blood in this area. Biomat USA Grifols is the a place to donate plasma in the area.