Brazil opens blood donation to more people, including regular donors over 70

Brazil has broadened who can donate blood under new national rules, allowing regular donors to continue beyond age 70 and shortening several waiting periods. Individual health assessments remain essential.

Older regular donors must be found fit in an annual medical assessment. People who have had tattoos, permanent makeup or certain cosmetic procedures can donate after seven days if the procedure’s sanitary safety can be verified. Otherwise, the wait is four months. The waiting period after an endoscopy has also fallen from six months to four.

The changes come alongside mandatory malaria testing of all donated blood. Developed by Brazil’s Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz, the NAT Plus test already screens for HIV and hepatitis B and C, and now also detects the parasite that causes malaria. People who have visited areas where malaria is regularly present can now donate after 30 days, rather than facing waits of up to a year.

Donated platelets, used in transfusions for people receiving cancer treatment and others, can also be stored for up to seven days instead of five if required quality controls are met. That could reduce waste and improve availability.

The broader eligibility rules do not mean automatic approval: every prospective donor must still undergo an individual health interview before giving blood.