Body piercing - Whole blood and components

Essential information

Includes

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

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

Less than 4 months from last piercing.

Discretionary

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

Supporting information

Additional information

Piercing has passed infection from person to person. Waiting 4 months helps to ensure that the infections tested for by the UK Blood and Tissue 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.

Regulatory information

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

Reason for change:

Additional information about memorial tattoos has been added.

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 76 (30 April 2025)