Body Piercing

Derma-rolling, ear and body piercing, permanent and semi-permanent make-up, tattooing (including memorial tattoos), platelet rich plasma (PRP) facial, and ritual self-flagellation.

Must not donate if:
Less than four months from last piercing.

Painting, stencilling or transfers applied to the skin without piercing, accept.

Piercing has passed infection from person to person. Waiting four months helps to ensure that the infections tested for by the Blood and Tissues Services will be picked up.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) facials (also known as ‘Vampire Facials’) have been associated with HIV transmission.

Ritual self-flagellation is carried out by some religious groups. The practice includes beating or flogging oneself with sharp objects. It may be associated with exposure to blood from other participants, either directly or through contamination of shared equipment.

Memorial tattoos may incorporate the cremation ashes of a deceased person into the tattoo ink (also known as a cremation tattoo or cremation ink).

This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for hepatitis C is negative. If this test is stopped, the guidance will change.

Part of this entry is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Additional information about memorial tattoos has been added.

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue, please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.