Anticoagulant Therapy

An anticoagulant is a drug taken to limit the ability of blood to form a clot. Examples include heparin, warfarin and direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran.

Must not donate if:
a) Receiving anticoagulant treatment or has been treated with anticoagulants in the last seven days.

b) The underlying reasons for anticoagulant treatment requires deferral

a) If prescribed for treatment of venous thromboembolism:

• See Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
   

b) Otherwise, if treatment was completed more than seven days ago and:

• The reason for treatment does not preclude donation, and
• The donor is not under investigation,

accept.

Cardiovascular Disease
Clopidogrel
Drug Index - preparations which may affect platelet function
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (including aspirin)
Superficial Thrombophlebitis
Thrombosis and Thrombophilia

There are many reasons that someone might be treated with an anticoagulant drug. It is important that the underlying indication for treatment is included in the assessment of the donor’s eligibility to donate.

While on anticoagulant treatment, it is more likely that a donor will bleed or bruise after donation. The effect of treatment wears off over some days. After seven days the blood clotting mechanisms should be back to normal.

Donors taking antiplatelet medication such as aspirin or clopidogrel should be assessed using the relevant entries for their medication and the underlying reason for treatment.

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

The scope of the entry has been clarified, with addition of a definition for anticoagulant medication. Additional links have been added to the See if Relevant section.

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