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Information for Student Donors

Information for Student Donors

Blood donations help save lives and are a great way for young adults to give back to the community.
General Guidelines for Blood Donation
  • Be in good general health and feeling well.
  • Be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years old with parental consent in some states).
  • Weigh at least 110 lbs. Additional height and weight requirements apply for donors 18 years old and younger and all high school student donors.
  • Have not donated blood in the last 56 days.
View All Eligibility Requirements

Height and Weight Requirements

Female Donors

Male Donors

Female donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Male donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Female Donors

Female donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Male Donors

Male donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Parental Consent

Some states allow 16 year olds to donate with written parental consent.
Find Your State Parental Consent Form

Select your state from the list below to download and print the appropriate form for your state. The parent or guardian must read all of the information provided about blood donation and research and must sign the consent form in black ink. The student must present the signed consent form on the day of donation.

16YO Non-Donor ("CT","DE","DC","FL","HI","NM","WY")

Sorry, you must be at least 17 years old to donate blood in that state.

16YO Parental ("AL","AK","AZ","AR","CA","CO","GA","ID","IL","IN","IA","KS","KY","LA","ME","MD","MA","MI","MN","MO","MS","MT","NE","NV","NH","NJ","NC","NY","ND","OH","OK","OR","PA","PR","RI","SC","SD","TN","TX","UT","VT","VI","VA","WA","WV","WI")
16YO Babesia ("CT","MA","MN","ND","SD","WI")
16YO Spanish ("ANY")


Materials also available in Spanish

16YO Parental ("AL","AK","AZ","AR","CA","CO","GA","ID","IL","IN","IA","KS","KY","LA","ME","MD","MA","MI","MN","MO","MS","MT","NE","NV","NH","NJ","NC","NY","ND","OH","OK","OR","PA","PR","RI","SC","SD","TN","TX","UT","VT","VI","VA","WA","WV","WI")
16YO Babesia ("CT","MA","MN","ND","SD","WI")

Proof of Age

Donors must have proof of age to ensure they meet the minimum age requirements and present either a primary form of ID or two secondary forms of ID.

Primary Form of ID

Secondary Form of ID

Students at High School

The donor needs either an American Red Cross donor ID (preferred) or an acceptable primary picture ID such as:

  • Driver's license
  • Immigration and Naturalization Service card (green card)
  • State ID
  • Employee ID
  • Passport
  • Student ID
  • Military ID

When a primary form of ID is not available, the donor needs two secondary forms of ID such as:

  • Student ID (without a photo)
  • Driver's license without a photo
  • Credit card or bank card
  • Employee ID (without a photo)
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • Personal checkbook with name and address
  • Social Security card
  • Voter registration card
  • Payroll stub
  • Vehicle registration
  • Fishing or hunting license
  • Grocery store frequent shopper card or VIP card
  • Club or museum membership card
  • Library card with donor's name
  • Professional license (such as: RN, LPN or MT)
  • Non-American Red Cross donor card
  • Selective Service card
  • Insurance card

Without any of the previously listed forms of ID, the ID and date of birth of a high school student may be checked by the following: 

  • School officials determine the donor’s identity and date of birth from a list of potentially eligible donors (may use the yearbook to assist with the determination)
  • Adult volunteers instructed on ID verification using a current yearbook picture and an additional piece of ID containing the donor’s name and age
  • A parent or legal guardian can provide a document with the donor’s legal name and verbally provide the name and age when the donor does not have ID due to age
  • High school students may not check identification on other high school students at high school blood drives

Primary Form of ID

The donor needs either an American Red Cross donor ID (preferred) or an acceptable primary picture ID such as:

  • Driver's license
  • Immigration and Naturalization Service card (green card)
  • State ID
  • Employee ID
  • Passport
  • Student ID
  • Military ID

Secondary Form of ID

When a primary form of ID is not available, the donor needs two secondary forms of ID such as:

  • Student ID (without a photo)
  • Driver's license without a photo
  • Credit card or bank card
  • Employee ID (without a photo)
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • Personal checkbook with name and address
  • Social Security card
  • Voter registration card
  • Payroll stub
  • Vehicle registration
  • Fishing or hunting license
  • Grocery store frequent shopper card or VIP card
  • Club or museum membership card
  • Library card with donor's name
  • Professional license (such as: RN, LPN or MT)
  • Non-American Red Cross donor card
  • Selective Service card
  • Insurance card

Students at High School

Without any of the previously listed forms of ID, the ID and date of birth of a high school student may be checked by the following: 

  • School officials determine the donor’s identity and date of birth from a list of potentially eligible donors (may use the yearbook to assist with the determination)
  • Adult volunteers instructed on ID verification using a current yearbook picture and an additional piece of ID containing the donor’s name and age
  • A parent or legal guardian can provide a document with the donor’s legal name and verbally provide the name and age when the donor does not have ID due to age
  • High school students may not check identification on other high school students at high school blood drives

Additional Information for Students

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