By Alana Mauger

This National Tattoo Day, we’re busting the myth people with tattoos can’t donate blood. To help, we asked donors at last month’s “I Bleed For Preston & Steve” blood drive to show us their ink! The good news for them – and for hospitals and patients – is that having a tattoo (or nine) DOES NOT disqualify us from donating lifesaving blood to the American Red Cross.

In fact, in most states, there’s no wait time between getting ink and giving blood, as long as your tattoo is applied a state-regulated facility using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. However, in states that don’t regulate tattoo facilities, like Pennsylvania, you need to wait three months after getting ink before you can donate blood.

But why the wait? While all blood donations are screened for Hepatitis B and C with several tests, there may be a period of time before the viruses can be properly detected. In addition to Pennsylvania, this applies to other unregulated states, including Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Utah and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia.

People who get tattoos in prison, those who apply their own tattoos and individuals who get tattoos in states with regulations but from unregulated artists or facilities must also wait three months before donating blood.

While we’re on the topic of eligibility, you can also donate blood if you have ear or body piercings! There’s a three-month wait if your piercing was performed with a reusable gun or other reusable instrument or if you don’t know whether or not the instrument was single use. (Note: Ear-piercing guns used at many retail stores are considered reusable, even though the equipment is sterilized and single-use jewelry is inserted.)

Arms – inked or not – are needed to help prevent a summer blood shortage, especially since only 3% of age-eligible blood donors give at least once per year. You can help by scheduling an appointment to give blood or platelets. Download the free Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to get started.