Yes, but it depends on which country a person lives in. Some countries, including the United States, allow people with MS to donate blood, while others, such as Canada, do not.

A person with multiple sclerosis (MS) can donate blood in the United States, provided they feel well enough and their condition is stable. However, the person must also meet other criteria, including not taking certain medications that could prevent them from donating.

Any person wishing to donate blood has to meet certain criteria. Guidelines for blood donation set by the American Red Cross include:

  • being at least 16 years of age, in some states, parental consent is necessary
  • weighing at least 110 pounds (Ib)
  • not currently having an illness
  • not having low iron levels
  • not have recently traveled to an area where malaria is present
  • not being pregnant

After giving blood, a person may feel tired or fatigued. This feeling may be worse in people with MS. For this reason, anyone experiencing MS fatigue should not donate blood.

Also, a person should not donate blood if they are experiencing an MS relapse and have recently taken disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

DMTs, such as Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Tysabru (natalizumab), can increase a person’s risk of infection. Tysabru has associations with a life threatening condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Taking either drug or other MS medications within a certain timeframe can mean a person with MS is unable to give blood.

Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, do not permit people with MS to donate blood. This is because the cause of the disease is still unknown. Reports indicate that some blood donation centers in the United States turn people with MS away.

Anyone with MS who wants to donate blood and has concerns should speak to a healthcare professional or local donation center about eligibility.