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Health status and platelets donation

The following criteria must be met by platelets donors:

Allergies

You can give platelets if you feel well, even if you have received an allergy shot.

Cancer

You can donate platelets if you have had basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ cervical cancer, as long as it has been treated successfully. Ask Héma-Québec about other types of cancer.

Cholesterol

You can donate platelets regardless of your cholesterol levels.

Cold

You can donate platelets if you feel well and don’t have a fever.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

If any of your close relatives (parent, child or sibling) has familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, you cannot give platelets.

Diabetes

You can give platelets if your diabetes is in remission or is controlled by diet or oral medication.

Sore throat

You cannot give platelets if you have symptoms and, if you take antibiotics, until the antibiotic treatment is finished.

Spleen removal

If your spleen was removed after an accident, you cannot donate platelets, but you can donate blood and plasma. If your spleen was removed due to an illness, you cannot donate platelets, blood or plasma.


Diabetes

You can give platelets if your diabetes is in remission or is controlled by diet or oral medication. If you inject insulin, consult the following details that apply to your situation.

  • Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes)
    You can give platelets if: 

    • You ate two hours before donating

    • You haven’t had any serious episodes in the past 3 months

    • You don’t currently have a foot or leg ulcer

    • You don’t usually get dizzy or have vertigo while standing 

  • Type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) 
    You can give platelets if: 
    • You haven’t had any serious episodes in the past 3 months

    • You don’t currently have a foot or leg ulcer

    • You don’t usually get dizzy or have vertigo while standing 

For other types of diabetes, please ask a Héma-Québec staff member.  

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