Can You Donate Blood With a Low Iron Level?

Donating blood is a great way to help others in need. But there are specific requirements to keep both blood donors and recipients safe. For example, your iron level must be high enough. A low iron level, or iron-deficiency anemia, is one of the most common reasons people can’t donate blood. Every year almost 1 in 10 potential blood donors are told they can’t donate for this reason. 

Even though you may feel great, a low iron level can hamper how well your body is working. Fortunately, most people will be able to raise their iron level and hemoglobin concentration. And when those levels are back up, you’ll be able to donate blood again. 

Let’s take a closer look at why your iron level matters when you want to donate blood. 

What are iron and hemoglobin?

Your red blood cells are packed full of iron and hemoglobin, which can carry oxygen to all of the body’s tissues. Iron and hemoglobin are the building blocks for red blood cells. You need a normal level of iron and hemoglobin so your red blood cells work properly and so you have enough of them.

Iron is an essential mineral that you have to get from your diet. The body needs it to make hemoglobin and to function normally. 

Hemoglobin is a protein found in each red blood cell, and it contains iron. If you’re getting enough iron in your diet, your body can usually make enough hemoglobin to deliver oxygen to all the tissues in your body. If you aren’t getting enough iron, or if you can’t absorb it for some reason, then the hemoglobin level can drop — causing anemia.  

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So it’s important to make sure you have normal levels of hemoglobin before donating blood. If you don’t, donating blood may cause or worsen anemia.

What is the minimum iron level required to donate blood?

Blood banks don’t directly check iron levels for blood donors. Instead, they check hemoglobin levels because it’s quick and easy. Since iron is needed to make hemoglobin, there’s a good chance your iron level is low if hemoglobin is low.

The American Red Cross uses the following cutoffs for blood donation:

• Female donors must have a hemoglobin greater than 12.5 mg/dL.

• Male donors must have a hemoglobin greater than 13 mg/dL.

• Donors can’t have a hemoglobin greater than 20 mg/dL.

If your hemoglobin level is below the minimum, you won’t be able to donate blood that day. But you can try to donate again after a few weeks. 

In the meantime, you can try to boost your iron levels. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should eat plenty of iron-rich foods or take an iron supplement.

Can you donate blood if you have iron-deficiency anemia?

The short answer is “no.” While blood banks want as many donors as possible, they don’t want to put donors at risk. 

Blood donations take about 500 mL of blood for each whole blood donation. That accounts for about 10% of your total blood volume. If you already have low iron or hemoglobin levels, blood donation will lower those levels even more. This is true even if you don’t have any symptoms of anemia.

If you donate blood while you have iron-deficiency anemia, you may develop or have worsening symptoms, such as:

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

• Leg cramps

• Heart palpitations or a fast heartbeat

• Cravings to chew ice (pica)

• Difficulty swallowing solid foods

• Trouble concentrating

• Fatigue (feeling tired)

• Headaches, especially with exercise

How can you raise your iron levels before and after blood donation?

You can usually raise low iron levels by eating iron-rich foods. Some foods that are high in iron include:

• Lean meats

• Poultry

• Seafood

• Beans, lentils, and legumes

• Tofu

• Iron-fortified cereals and whole grains

• Spinach

If you eat a mostly plant-based diet, make sure to also eat foods rich in vitamin C. Plant-based foods have plenty of iron, it’s just harder to absorb. Vitamin C makes iron absorption easier. Here are some foods rich in vitamin C:

• Orange juice

• Citrus fruits

• Tomatoes

• Red bell peppers

• Broccoli

• Collard greens

• Cantaloupe

Sometimes people need an iron supplement or multivitamin. If your iron and hemoglobin levels aren’t improving, talk with your healthcare provider. There may be an underlying medical reason.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Frank Schwalbe, MD

Frank Schwalbe, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He has practiced anesthesiology for 30 years.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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