Recently tattooed - permitted to donate blood? What does the blood donor selection examination include?

1. Can newly tattooed individuals donate blood?

Based on Clause 2, Article 5 of Circular 26/2013/TT-BYT, it is stipulated that individuals must defer donating blood for 06 months from the time of:

a) Tattooing;

b) Piercing the earlobe, nose, navel, or other body parts;

c) Exposure to blood and body fluids of individuals at risk or those who have contracted blood-borne diseases;

d) Recovery after having diseases such as typhoid, septicemia, snake bites, thromboangiitis obliterans, phlebitis, osteomyelitis, and pancreatitis.

Therefore, as per the above regulation, you will be ineligible to donate blood for a period of 06 months from the date you get a tattoo.

2. What does the blood donor selection examination include?

Based on Article 8 of Circular 26/2013/TT-BYT, the content of the blood donor selection examination is as follows:

1. Conducting a medical history inquiry, health examination, and tests as stipulated in Article 4 of this Circular.

2. Performing a rapid HBsAg test prior to blood donation for first-time donors.

3. Rapid HBsAg testing is not mandatory for repeat donors who have had a non-reactive HBsAg screening result at their most recent donation or a negative HBsAg test result in the health check-up conducted within 12 months prior to the date of blood donation registration.

4. In cases where individuals with a history of suspected positive HBsAg want to donate blood, they must have negative results in two consecutive HBsAg tests taken 06 months apart using ELISA or chemiluminescence techniques, and simultaneously have a test performed using molecular biology techniques.

The blood donor selection examination will include the above-mentioned content.

Sincerely!