Can You Donate Blood If You Have a Tattoo?

The quick answer is yes, you can donate blood if you have one or multiple tattoos.

How soon after a tattoo can you donate blood?

You can donate after 7 days as long as you received your tattoo in a state-regulated, licensed parlor using sterile needles and non-reusable ink.

If these requirements aren’t met, it will be a 4-month deferral for donating blood.

Why can’t you donate blood after getting a tattoo?

The only reason you would not be able to donate blood 7 days from when you received your tattoo would be if you got the tattoo in a non-state-regulated tattoo parlor, the artist used unsterile needles, and/or the ink used was reused.

Check with your local tattoo parlor to see if they are state-regulated facilities.  Many tattoo parlors in California are state regulated.

Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are:

• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Utah
• and Wyoming.

Where can I schedule my next donation appointment?

The easiest way to schedule your next blood donation appointment is by going to www.hcbb.com/schedule or clicking here.

We recommend checking our Medicine Deferral List before scheduling your appointment.