Arlington Donor Center

Donors must be 16 years or older, be in good health, weigh at least 110lbs, and have a valid government or school photo ID. Sixteen-year-olds must have a signed parental consent form; you can find the parental consent form here.

Your entire donation experience should take around 60 minutes, but donating whole blood itself only takes 10 minutes once you’re on the donation bed. Double red, platelet and plasma donations take a little longer. Just think －an hour of your day could save a life.

Drink plenty of water to ensure you are well hydrated and eat a good, healthy meal at least two to four hours before your donation. Make sure to wear a shirt that allows for access to your elbow.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time if you have not yet used QuickScreen to complete the health history questionnaire online.

You may experience an initial moment of slight discomfort from the needle stick, but the process of drawing blood is generally a pain-free experience.

You can donate whole blood every 56 days, double red cells every 112 days, plasma every 28 days and platelets every 7 days.

After donating blood, we recommend that you stay hydrated, keep your bandage on for four hours, avoid hazardous or strenuous activities for 24 hours, and eat iron-rich foods. Also, feel good about helping save lives!