From the Red Cross website:
"To give blood for transfusion to another person, you must be healthy, be at least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law. You must weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated whole blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days) or double red cells in the last 16 weeks (112 days). "Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, "healthy" also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control."

Additionally, you might find this article from healthywomen.org to be helpful:
http://www.healthywomen.org/columns/drpeekescolumn/dbcolumn/theinsandoutsofdonatingblood
Source(s):
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html

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