UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center - Fort Collins

We moved towards a more inclusive blood donation process on October 30, 2023. In alliance with the new FDA guidance, we implemented the new individual donor assessment questionnaire which eliminated previous FDA criteria that may have caused people to be ineligible for blood donation. Under the new individual donor assessment criteria, the donor history is gender-neutral and all donors answer the same questions regardless of gender. Each donor is assessed on their individual risk factors. We are excited to welcome a more inclusive donor base when you are ready!

To learn more about the scientific data behind this change you can go to:
How Individual Donor Assessment Was Informed by Research (aabb.org)

To learn more about FAQ’s and the specific eligibility changes go to:
FAQs on Individual Donor Assessment Screening (aabb.org)

To ensure safety for recipients of donated blood and blood products, individuals may NOT donate for certain reasons or conditions.

• The restrictions for military service members stationed in Europe AND for donors who have spent 5 years or more HAS BEEN LIFTED. You may now donate if you lived or served in the military in Europe.
• Previous deferrals based on time spent in Europe from 1980-2001 HAVE BEEN LIFTED. You may now donate if you lived or visited Europe during these years.
• You can be exposed to malaria through travel to certain countries, so your travel will be evaluated when you come in to donate.
• Certain medications. In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor. Your eligibility will be based upon the reason that the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted. When you come in to donate, you will be asked to review a list of medications that are known to harm recipients. Please tell us if you have taken any of these medications after reviewing the list.
  • If you have specific medication questions, please contact us. We’re happy to discuss your donor eligibility.
• If you have had recent surgery, it is not necessarily the surgery, but the underlying condition requiring surgery to be performed that requires evaluation before you donate. Again we need you to be well and healthy for donation.
• If you have a cardiac arrhythmia that requires treatment, including oral medications, implants or pacemakers, you will not be allowed to donate in order to ensure your health and safety.
• Pregnant women need to wait 6 weeks after giving birth to protect your own health. Breast feeding is not a deferral.
• Wait 3 months after a tattoo/permanent makeup if it was applied in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities. Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are: District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming. A tattoo or cosmetic tattoo is acceptable if applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused.
• Piercings are acceptable as long as the instruments used were single-use equipment and disposable (which means both the gun and the earring cassette were disposable). Wait 3 months if reusable equipment was used.
• You should not donate if you have AIDS/HIV, have had a positive test for the AIDS/HIV virus, have or have taken antiretroviral medications. Never donate blood just to get free testing!
• If you have ever been diagnosed with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you may not donate blood or blood products. If you live with or have had close contact with someone with hepatitis, wait 12 months until after the last contact before you donate.
• If you received a COVID-19 vaccination and it was the mRNA version (Pfizer or Moderna), then there is no waiting period to donate after vaccination.
• If you are unsure of what type of COVID-19 vaccine you received or know it was NOT the mRNA version, there will be a 14-day deferral to donate. We are happy to welcome you again on day 15 post-vaccination.

Who it helps

Whole blood donations can help many people. Whole blood can be used in many ways to help save the lives of trauma patients, those having a surgery, or those who need an emergency transfusion.

• Donation time: 30 to 45 minutes
• Donation frequency: Every 56 days
• Blood types needed: All blood types

What is it?

Platelet donations are a special donation done through a process called apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis). Platelet donations are collected at our Garth Englund Blood Center – Fort Collins, Garth Englund Blood Center – Loveland (located inside Medical Center of the Rockies) and UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center – Greeley locations.

We use an automated process that lets a donor give blood, and then separates the whole blood into its 3 basic parts: platelets, red cells and plasma. Each of these components is a valuable part of many health treatments.

Learn more about platelet and apheresis donations >

Who it helps

Platelet donations are most often used to help those facing injuries and illnesses, cancer, and burn patients.

• Donation time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Donation frequency: Every 14 days, up to 24 times within a year
• Blood types needed: All blood types

Rest. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep prior to donating, and try to schedule before or several hours after exercising.

Hydrate. Start hydrating at least 24 hours prior to your donation appointment. Choose water, juice, or sports drinks to help make your veins easier to locate, and to replenish fluid volume lost during your donation. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine (coffee, soda, energy drinks) for 24 hours before your donation.

Eat well. Eat a well-balanced meal within four hours leading up to your donation appointment. Avoid fatty foods as they may affect the blood you donate. Increase your diet in iron-­rich foods between donations to maintain your proper iron levels.

When you enter the Garth Englund donation site, staff members will guide you through the process and answer your questions.

The donation process takes 30 to 45 minutes. This includes the time needed to fill out health history and consent forms.

The rest of the process includes having your vitals taken, and undergoing a finger-stick check to test your hemoglobin levels which tells us the volume of red blood cells.

The actual drawing of blood – a pint – takes five to 10 minutes.

• After donation, donors are encouraged to rest 10 minutes before leaving and grab a snack.
• Stop by the front desk to schedule your next appointment or simply log into your HemaConnect donor portal to self-schedule. You are able to donate once every 56 days (or eight weeks).