Plasma supports our body by helping with immune system response, clotting, etc. Donating plasma can help people with many chronic diseases, trauma, blood clotting issue, burn victims, and many rare diseases. So if you donate or planning to donate plasma kudos to you. But there are some conditions to donating plasma. If you have a heart condition, cancer, or other health issue then you can not donate plasma. But what about tattoos? If you get a tattoo do you have to wait to donate plasma or does it take away your eligibility to donate plasma forever?
Even though tattoos are not a disease or a health condition still getting one done can complicate things when it comes to donating plasma. Because ink pigments get into your blood vessel when you get a tattoo. If the tattooing procedure is not done correctly it can contaminate your blood. Not to worry, I will elaborate on the matter below.
Key Takeaways
- You should wait 4 months after getting a tattoo before you can donate plasma.
- Having a tattoo or piercing does not take away your eligibility to donate plasma.
- You should wait to donate plasma after getting a tattoo to not spread blood born disease, or infection, to pass the screening test, etc.
- You may not need to wait 3 to 4 months if you got your tattoo from a state-regulated tattoo shop.
- You might be ineligible even though you wait after getting a tattoo if you have any blood born disease, have a certain heart condition, and are a cancer patient.
- Apart from getting a tattoo, you should wait if you donated blood recently, had sexual intercourse with a new partner or someone who has a blood born disease, are pregnant, etc.
Time You Need To Wait Before Donating Plasma After Getting A Tattoo
The tattooing procedure does not take much time, at most it can take a few sessions. But the healing time after getting a new tattoo can be lengthy. A newly done tattoo may take around 2 weeks to heal. So, can you donate plasma after your tattoo is healed? How long after getting a tattoo can you donate plasma?
To put it simply, you need to wait 4 months after getting a tattoo to donate plasma. The time length may vary depending on the area you live in. It can be around a 3 to 6-month time gap. Even if your tattoo heals before 3 to 6 months, you can not donate blood. The size of the tattoo, the color of ink used, or the placement of the tattoo can not affect this time length. Even if you get a cosmetic tattoo, you need to wait recommended time to become eligible to donate plasma. The same rule applies when you get a piercing. Does not matter what type of piercing you get and where you get it, you will need to wait 4 months to donate plasma after getting the piercing.
Eligibility of Donating Plasma if You Have Tattoos
I have seen many people who think they are not eligible to donate blood or plasma just because they have tattoos. Having a tattoo or piercing does not make you ineligible to donate blood and plasma. But in general, you should wait at least 3 months after getting a new tattoo or piercing before you donate plasma. And it is best to wait around 4 months before donating plasma.
Getting a tattoo requires injecting foreign components like ink pigment into the dermis layer of your skin. Some pigments will get into the blood vessels and that is unavoidable. Introducing foreign components into blood vessels has some risks. It has the potential to expose you to harmful viruses and can affect your immune system. It increases the risk if you get your tattoo done from a non-regulated tattoo parlor. Now if your blood gets compromised by getting a tattoo using an unhygienic process then you won’t be able to donate plasma. Some people do not understand the reason behind their ineligibility to donate plasma and they think they are not eligible because they have tattoos. The main reason behind their ineligibility is not the tattoo itself but the way they got their tattoo and compromised blood.
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5 Reasons Why You Should Wait After Getting a Tattoo to Donate Plasma
Even a few years ago it was recommended to wait at least a year before you could donate plasma. But in recent years it has been confirmed that waiting 3 to 4 months after getting a tattoo is enough for you to donate plasma. Now why do you have to wait after getting a tattoo to donate blood? I have listed a few reasons below:
1. Potential blood born disease
Before we get to the answer, it is necessary to understand the potential risks of getting a tattoo. Getting a tattoo from a professional certified tattoo artist is safe as they follow all the regulations regarding the tattooing procedure. But when you get a tattoo from an unregulated place you can get many blood born diseases, such as:
- Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
How would you know if you got any of these blood-borne diseases after you got your tattoo? You won’t test positive right after you get such a disease. Each of them takes a different time length to be detected by a test. So in general 3 to 4 months is enough time to detect such disease by test. And it takes around 3 months for your body to develop detectable antibodies.
2. Focus your body to heal
Tattooing is like getting a wound on your body by choice. But the procedure follows health regulations so it is safe to get tattoos. Your body and mind both require some time to heal from this wound or trauma. It takes time for the skin to close up, go through a scabbing phase, and fully heal. Your immune system may get exhausted or weak during this time. So donating plasma without waiting after getting a tattoo can cause you issues. It can lead to electrolyte imbalance, fatigue, dehydration, bleeding, bruising, etc. So make sure to wait the recommended time before you go for a plasma donation after getting a tattoo.
3. Infection
A newly done tattoo is sensitive and prone to infection. Remember, whenever there is a needle poking involved there will be a chance of infection. Plasma donation requires your skin to get punctuated by a needle. You may catch an infection from this needle-puncturing process. Catching an infection when your tattoo is still healing can lead to complications, such as tattoo distortion, delayed tattoo healing, etc.
4. Screening process
A screening process is required to ensure the safety of the donor and the receiver. Every plasma donation center has some criteria to determine the eligibility of the plasma donor. The screening process may include questions such as when did get your tattoo or piercing and some tests. Waiting for a specific period of time after getting a tattoo allows the ink to settle and reduces the risk of false-positive screening results or potential concerns during the eligibility assessment.
5. Local guidelines & regulations
Country or location wise the amount of time you should wait after getting a tattoo before donating plasma can vary. Not to mention, not maintaining the recommended time gap can lead to legal consequences. You are trying to do good by donating plasma but you may face legal issues by donating plasma before the recommended time of your local law or regulations.
When Do You not Need to Wait to Donate Plasma?
It is recommended to wait around 3 to 4 months or depending on the area you live in it can be 6 months before you can donate plasma. That said, interestingly you may not have to wait if health guidelines and regulations allow you to donate plasma where you live. Some states in America allow you to donate plasma before the 3 months time gap after getting a tattoo. But the condition is you have to get the tattoo from a state-regulated tattoo shop. Because state-regulated tattoo shops are run by professional certified tattoo artists who follow the necessary guidelines to avoid any possible infection and contamination. As long as you get tattoos following the necessary guidelines there should be no issue. Because you won’t be catching any bloodborne disease and your blood won’t be compromised. So there is no reason for you to wait 3 to 4 months to donate plasma.
Reasons to Become Ineligible to Donate Plasma Even Though You Waited After Getting a Tattoo
If you think just waiting for about 4 months after getting the tattoo you can become eligible to donate plasma, you can not be further from the truth. There are many reasons why you may not be eligible to donate blood even after waiting the recommended amount of time after getting a tattoo.
I have listed a few of those reasons below:
- If you have a certain heart condition
Having a heart condition does not prevent you from getting a tattoo. But certain heart condition takes away your eligibility to donate plasma. - Cancer patient
If you are a cancer patient then you can not donate plasma. Even if you feel healthy, you can not donate plasma as it can put you and the receiver of your plasma at risk. - Have blood born disease
If you have any blood born diseases such as:- HIV
- HTLV
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
Then you can not donate blood.
Apart From Getting a Tattoo Why Else You Should Wait to Donate Plasma
Apart from getting a tattoo, there are many more reasons why you should wait to donate plasma.
I have mentioned a few reasons below:
- Blood donors
- If you are a blood donor then you have to pause from donating blood while you donate plasma. You have to wait around 1 month to donate plasma after you donate blood.
- Coronavirus vaccines
- It is recommended to wait for some time after you get your coronavirus vaccine to donate plasma. You should wait 2 days and on the 3rd day, you can donate plasma after getting your vaccine.
- Sexual intercourse
If you have sexual intercourse with a new partner or with some who has:- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HTLV
- Syphilis
Then you have to wait around 3 to 4 months before you can donate plasma.
- During pregnancy & after delivery
If you are pregnant then you can not donate plasma and have to wait. After you deliver the baby you have to wait around 6 months to become eligible to donate plasma.
FAQs
Can I donate plasma if I got a tattoo a month ago?
No, you should wait 4 months, in general, to donate plasma after getting a tattoo. The time length can vary depending on where you live.
Does everyone need to wait 4 months to donate plasma after getting a tattoo?
No, some states allow people who got a tattoo from a state-regulated tattoo parlor to donate plasma without waiting for 4 months.
Can I become ineligible for life if I get a tattoo or piercing?
No, getting a tattoo or piercing will not make you ineligible for life to donate blood unless you get any bloodborne disease from the procedure.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the waiting period for donating plasma after getting a tattoo can be around 4 months. This waiting period serves as a precautionary measure to minimize the risk of transmitting bloodborne infections that you may have caught during the tattooing piercing procedure. Donation centers do screening to make sure as a donor your and the receiver party both stay out of harm while donating and receiving plasma. If you go for a plasma donation without waiting recommended time the screening test may give a faulty result and put you and others at risk. Apart from waiting after getting tattoos, you may need to wait if you have donated blood recently, got corona vaccine within 48 hours, are pregnant or it has not been 6 months still you gave birth. And you may become ineligible to donate blood despite waiting for 4 months if you have any blood born disease, a certain heart condition, are a cancer patient, etc.
It might seem a lot complicated but don’t forget all the precaution is there to ensure your safety and others. Make sure to get a tattoo from a state-regulated tattoo parlor and you might not even need to wait long to donate plasma.
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