Blood pressure, high - Whole blood and components

Also known as: hypertension

Essential information

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. The cause of hypertension is under investigation
  2. Antihypertensive medication has been altered in the last 4 weeks
  3. Is having problems with feeling faint, fainting or giddiness
  4. Has suffered from heart failure
  5. Has renal impairment
  6. Has required surgery for a blocked or narrowed artery including any type of amputation
  7. Has or has had gangrene
Discretionary
  1. If the donor is being regularly assessed for high blood pressure but treatment has not been commenced, accept.
  2. If the donor is taking medication for raised blood pressure and neither the type nor the dose has been changed in the last 4 weeks and they are otherwise well, accept.
  3. If gangrene was not related to diabetes or peripheral vascular disease (e.g. it was due to hypothermia or meningococcal meningitis) and all wounds are fully healed, even if amputation was required, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant
Additional information

The rationale for not accepting donors on medication, other than beta blockers or diuretics, for the treatment of hypertension was reviewed by the Standing Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Donors (SACCSD) in 2008. It was decided that available data did not support the deferral of all individuals with controlled hypertension taking other medications.

In the UK, about 1 in 20 individuals has hypertension. Most people with hypertension are in good health and are fit to donate blood.
It is important to ensure that donors on antihypertensive treatment are not experiencing hypotensive side effects from their medication.

Reason for change:
Removal of additional information about the cardiac and renal complications associated with hypertension that are contained within the relevant ‘Cardiovascular disease’ and ‘Impaired renal function’ entries. A link to the latter, which is a new entry, has been added. The link to the former ‘Kidney and bladder disease’ entry has been removed.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 81 (11 August 2026)