Blood donation
What the FAA's documents say about blood donation, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
Covers: All classes
Show the FAA's words: which classes the FAA's table covers
Blood Donation - All Classes
Short version
The disposition table has three rows, and each says ISSUE.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Row AOne unit, less than or equal to 500 ml | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
| Row BTwo or more units, more than 500 ml, including Power Red | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
| Row CPlatelet or plasma donation | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Blood donation
- Row A · Examiner can issue
One unit (less than or equal to 500 ml). After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
A. One unit (less than or equal to 500 ml) … After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
- Row B · Examiner can issue
Two or more units (more than 500 ml). The table says this includes Power Red (double red cell donation). After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
B. Two or more units (more than 500 ml) This includes Power Red (double red cell donation) … After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
- Row C · Examiner can issue
Platelet or plasma donation. After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
C. Platelet OR Plasma donation … After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
The FAA pathways for blood donation
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: Row A: one unit
Less than or equal to 500 ml.For one unit (less than or equal to 500 ml), the table says ISSUE after a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms.
Evaluation data
- After a 24 hour recovery period
- And the airman has no symptoms
At the exam
- Your AME summarizes this history in Block 60
Show the FAA's words: Row A: one unit
A. One unit (less than or equal to 500 ml)
After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms:
ISSUE
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: Row B: two or more units
More than 500 ml, including Power Red (double red cell donation).For two or more units (more than 500 ml), the table says ISSUE after a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms.
Evaluation data
- After a 72 hour recovery period
- And the airman has no symptoms
At the exam
- Your AME summarizes this history in Block 60
Show the FAA's words: Row B: two or more units
B. Two or more units (more than 500 ml) This includes Power Red (double red cell donation)
After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms:
ISSUE
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 3: Row C: platelet or plasma donation
A platelet donation or a plasma donation.For platelet or plasma donation, the table says ISSUE after a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms.
Evaluation data
- After a 4-hour recovery period
- And the airman has no symptoms
At the exam
- Your AME summarizes this history in Block 60
Show the FAA's words: Row C: platelet or plasma donation
C. Platelet OR Plasma donation
After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms:
ISSUE
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
FAA source: Blood Donation. FAA date 7 January 2021; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Row AExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
Row BExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
Row CExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Row A · Examiner can issue
One unit (less than or equal to 500 ml). After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
A. One unit (less than or equal to 500 ml) … After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
- Row B · Examiner can issue
Two or more units (more than 500 ml). The table says this includes Power Red (double red cell donation). After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
B. Two or more units (more than 500 ml) This includes Power Red (double red cell donation) … After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
- Row C · Examiner can issue
Platelet or plasma donation. After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms, the table says ISSUE, and the examiner summarizes this history in Block 60.
C. Platelet OR Plasma donation … After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … ISSUE Summarize this history in Block 60.
Good to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
The table names no other outcome
Each row says ISSUE after its recovery period and the airman has no symptoms. The table does not say what applies before the recovery period has passed, or when the airman has symptoms.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
After a 24 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms: … After a 4-hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms:
Power Red is Row B
Row B is two or more units (more than 500 ml), and the table says this includes Power Red (double red cell donation). Its recovery period is 72 hours.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
B. Two or more units (more than 500 ml) This includes Power Red (double red cell donation) … After a 72 hour recovery period and the airman has no symptoms:
FAA sources
Every FAA document this page relies on, with the FAA's own date and the date Crosscheck last read it. The documents to print open at the FAA, so they are always the FAA's current ones.
This reports what the FAA has published. It is not medical advice, and it does not say how the FAA or an examiner will decide a case.