Can You Donate Blood After Getting a Piercing? Waiting Period and What to Know

A question we often hear from customers who donate blood regularly: “If I get a piercing, can I still donate blood, and how long do I have to wait?” In this article we explain how long the waiting period is, why it applies, when it starts and how you can plan blood donation and piercing dates together. This information is for general guidance; donor eligibility rules are set by blood centers and may change over time. Before donating, it is best to check with the center you will go to or with Kızılay (Turkish Red Crescent, 168).

How long do you have to wait to donate blood after a piercing?

The donor criteria published by hospital blood centers in Turkey list a 12-month temporary deferral for “body piercings”. The same list includes a 12-month waiting period for tattoos and acupuncture. Ear piercing is also a hole made in the skin to wear jewelry, so it is generally assessed under the same heading. So whether it is a Lobe, helix, tragus, nose or any other area, you will be asked to wait about a year after a new piercing before donating blood.

Waiting periods differ from country to country. If you will donate abroad or have read different periods online, don’t be surprised; the table below is a general comparison and rules may be updated:

If you are donating in Turkey, the rule that applies is the one used by the blood center in Turkey.

Why is there a waiting period?

Every piercing is a small wound in the skin. When blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV are newly acquired, the screening tests run on donated blood may not detect them right away. This is called the “window period”. The waiting period is a precaution for the safety of the patient who will receive the blood.

This rule does not mean your piercing was done in poor conditions. At our studio, for every piercing a single-use sterile needle is opened. However, the criteria in Turkey do not distinguish where or how the procedure was done; the same period applies wherever the piercing was performed.

When does the waiting period start?

The period starts from the date of your last piercing. If you get another new piercing within a year, the waiting period starts again from that new date. That is why it helps to note your piercing dates; your record at our studio or your WhatsApp messages with us can also help you remember the date.

Changing the jewelry in an already healed piercing is not a new piercing. Still, it is best to mention it in the pre-donation interview and leave the assessment to the physician.

Do I need to mention my piercing when donating blood?

Yes. The donor questionnaire filled in before donation asks whether you have had a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture in the last year. Answering this question truthfully matters for both the patient’s safety and yours. If you are unsure about anything, ask the staff member helping with the form or the physician.

Can you get a piercing after donating blood?

Donating blood first and getting a piercing afterwards is not a problem in terms of donation rules. However, some people feel weak, dizzy or have low blood pressure after donating. So don’t get pierced on the day you donate; book your appointment a few days later, once you feel completely well. Coming in on the day of your piercing having eaten, rested and drunk plenty of water reduces the chance of feeling faint. For preparation, take a look at our pre-piercing preparation guide .

If you donate regularly, how should you plan your piercing?

• Schedule the piercing right after a donation: If you get pierced a few days after donating, your next donation date and the 12-month wait overlap as much as possible.
• If you are considering more than one piercing, plan them for the same period: Getting piercings months apart restarts the waiting period each time. For combinations that can be done in the same session or close together, see how many piercings you can get at once article.
• If a relative urgently needs blood: It may be better to postpone the piercing and donate first.

Does this also apply to plasma and platelet donation?

Donor eligibility is also assessed for plasma and platelet donations made by apheresis, and procedures such as tattoos and piercings are generally asked about in the same way. For definite information, check with the center where you will donate.

Does a problem during healing affect donation?

Even after the waiting period is over, donation is postponed if you have an active infection. For example, one hospital blood center’s criteria list a wait of 3 days after an abscess has healed and treatment has ended, and 48 hours after the last dose of antibiotics. If there is increasing redness, warmth, dark discharge or fever around the piercing, see a doctor first. To tell normal healing signs apart from problems, see infection or irritation and piercings while taking antibiotics — our articles cover both.

Piercing prices

If you are planning a piercing around your donation schedule, knowing the prices in advance makes things easier. Prices include standard surgical steel jewelry:

Titanium jewelry costs 350 TL; if you choose titanium jewelry for your piercing, 350 TL is added to the piercing price. Example: helix 450 TL + titanium 350 TL = 800 TL. For all areas, see our prices page see our guide.

Quick checklist

• Note the date of your last piercing; count 12 months from that date for donation.
• If you add a new piercing, the period starts again.
• Answer the piercing question on the donation form truthfully.
• Don’t get pierced on the day you donate blood; rest for a few days.
• If there are signs of infection around the piercing, see a doctor before donating.
• Rules may change; ask the center or Kızılay (168) before donating.

FAQ

Can you donate blood after getting your ears pierced?

Under the criteria of blood centers in Turkey, ear piercing is also assessed as a body piercing and a 12-month temporary deferral usually applies. You can donate once the period is over; the final decision belongs to the physician at the donation center.

How many months after a piercing can I donate blood?

In Turkey, the general rule is 12 months from the date of your last piercing. In some regions such as the European Union this period is shorter, but if you are donating in Turkey, the rule of the center in Turkey applies.

I changed my jewelry; does the waiting period start again?

Changing jewelry in a healed piercing is not a new piercing. Still, mention it in the pre-donation interview; the physician makes the assessment.

How long after donating blood can I get a piercing?

Donating blood does not prevent a piercing, but getting pierced on the day of donation increases the risk of weakness and dizziness. It is better to book your appointment a few days later, once you feel completely well.

If it was done with a single-use sterile needle, is the waiting period shorter?

The criteria in Turkey do not distinguish by where the procedure was done; wherever the piercing was performed, a 12-month wait generally applies.

What if I get both a tattoo and a piercing in the same year?

Both have a 12-month waiting period, counted from the date of the last procedure. For example, if you got a tattoo first and a piercing a few months later, you wait 12 months from the piercing date to donate.

If you’d like to plan your piercing date around your blood donation schedule together, message us or visit our studio at İstiklal Mah. Mithatpaşa Cad. No:7B, Ümraniye Çarşı (Mon–Sat 10:00–20:30, Sun 11:00–20:00). For prices, see our prices page for more.

This content is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.