Can I Give Blood If I Have a Cold
, by Andrew Odgers, 9 min reading time
On the day
Can I give blood if I have a cold?
No. You must be feeling completely well on the day you give blood. A cold, flu, sore throat, blocked nose or any symptom of an active infection means you should reschedule your appointment. Donating while unwell is not safe for you and may compromise the quality of the donation for the person who receives it. Rescheduling is quick, there is no penalty, and you can rebook as soon as your symptoms have fully cleared.
The rule and why it exists
Why being well on the day is non-negotiable
The two people the rule protects
The NHS requires all blood donors to be in good health on the day of their appointment. This rule exists to protect two people simultaneously: you and the person who will eventually receive your blood. Donation involves removing approximately 470ml of blood, which puts a mild but real physiological demand on the body. Attending while your immune system is already fighting an infection adds to that demand and can make your symptoms worse.
From the recipient's perspective, infections present in donated blood at the time of collection can in some circumstances affect the safety of the donation even after standard screening. The pre-donation health assessment is one of several layers of protection against this, and your own honest assessment of how you feel is the first and most important layer.
Which symptoms mean you must reschedule
Any symptom of a respiratory tract infection is sufficient reason to postpone your donation. This includes a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, headache, raised temperature, muscle aches or a general sense of feeling below your normal self. You do not need a GP diagnosis to act on this.
The practical test is straightforward: if you would not describe yourself as feeling completely well, reschedule. Donation staff will assess your health on arrival and will turn you away if they have any concern, so rescheduling in advance saves the appointment slot for another donor and avoids a wasted journey for you.
How long to wait after a cold clears
You should wait until you have been completely symptom-free for at least seven full days before attending your appointment. The seven-day count begins from the day your last symptom resolves entirely, not from when you first became unwell.
If your cold was followed by a secondary infection such as a chest infection, sinusitis or tonsillitis requiring antibiotics, you must complete the full antibiotic course and then wait a further seven days before donating. Both the infection and any antibiotic treatment must be fully finished before the seven-day window starts.
COVID-19 has its own separate rules
COVID-19 is not treated the same as a standard cold or flu for donation purposes. If you have had confirmed or suspected COVID-19, you must wait at least 28 days after all symptoms have completely resolved before donating. Fatigue, breathlessness or any other lingering symptom means the clock has not yet started.
Long COVID, where symptoms persist beyond the acute illness, means the deferral continues until you are genuinely symptom-free. Staff will ask specifically about recent COVID illness at your appointment and will advise you on the appropriate timing for your situation.
Rescheduling is simple and expected
Rescheduling an NHS blood donation appointment can be done online at blood.co.uk or by calling the national donor helpline on 0300 123 23 23. There is no penalty, no black mark on your record and no negative consequence of any kind for rescheduling due to illness.
The NHS actively prefers that unwell donors reschedule rather than attend and be turned away. An unused appointment slot can be offered to another donor on a waiting list. Rescheduling in advance is always the right decision when you feel unwell.
Ready to donate
Fully recovered? Your appointment is waiting
Once seven clear days have passed since your last symptom and you feel completely your normal self again, the NHS needs you. Rebook and your contribution will be just as valuable.
Beyond a simple cold
When your illness needs more than a postponement
Most colds resolve within seven to ten days. See your GP rather than simply rescheduling if any of the following apply.
- Symptoms lasting more than ten days without meaningful improvement. This may indicate a secondary infection or another condition that warrants medical review before you donate.
- A fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius. This goes beyond a typical cold and the cause should be assessed by a doctor before any planned physical activity including donation.
- Difficulty breathing or chest tightness. These symptoms should always be medically assessed and fully resolved before you attempt to donate.
- You are immunocompromised due to a condition or medication. Standard cold recovery guidance may not apply. Discuss the timing of donation with your GP.
Feeling completely well on the day is one of the most straightforward donation requirements. Acting on it by rescheduling when you have a cold protects your own recovery and helps ensure the donation you eventually make is as safe and high-quality as possible.
Our step-by-step preparation guide covers everything you need to do before your appointment to give yourself the best chance of a successful donation.
Part of the hub
Back to the Giving Blood Hub
This article is part of our complete giving blood knowledge base, covering eligibility, preparation, what happens on the day, recovery, types of donation and the science of why blood is so urgently needed.
Keep reading
Preparation, what to expect and recovery
How to prepare for giving blood covers food, drink, rest and everything else on the pre-donation checklist. What to expect when you give blood in the UK walks through the appointment step by step. And How to recover after giving blood covers the 24 hours after your session.
Frequently asked
Cold, flu and donation questions
Can I give blood with a sore throat?
No. A sore throat indicates an active infection. You must wait until you have been completely symptom-free for at least seven days before attending. If the sore throat required antibiotics, the full course must be complete and the seven-day wait must follow that.
Can I give blood if I have hay fever?
Usually yes. Hay fever is an allergic response to pollen rather than an infection. It does not prevent donation provided you feel well on the day. Most antihistamines used to manage hay fever are compatible with donation. Declare any medication on your questionnaire.
How many days after a cold can I give blood?
Seven full days after your last symptom has completely resolved. Count from the day you felt well again, not from when you first became unwell. If antibiotics were involved, add seven days after the course ends.
Will they turn me away if I arrive with symptoms?
Yes. Every donor is assessed by a nurse before donation. Active cold symptoms will result in deferral on the day. Rescheduling in advance is far better as it preserves the appointment slot for another donor.
Can I donate if I took paracetamol for a cold this morning?
No. If you need paracetamol to manage cold symptoms, you are not well enough to donate. Wait until you no longer need any symptom relief and have then been symptom-free for seven days.
Can I donate if I had a cold five days ago but feel fine now?
Not yet. The full seven-day symptom-free window must pass. If your last symptom was five days ago, wait two more days before attending your appointment.