Brazil to implement new blood donation regulations in October

Brazil's Ministry of Health has announced new blood donation regulations, set to take effect in October 2026. The updated technical rules, established by Ordinance GM/MS nº 11.685/2026, aim to modernize hemotherapy services and increase the donor pool.

Key changes include removing the maximum age limit for regular donors, allowing healthy individuals over 70 to continue donating. The new rules also significantly reduce waiting periods for several groups. For instance, individuals who have undergone tattoos, permanent makeup, or aesthetic procedures like Botox may donate after seven days, provided the establishment meets safety standards. If safety cannot be verified, the waiting period is four months. Similarly, the wait for those who underwent endoscopy or used non-prescribed anabolic steroids will drop from six to four months.

To enhance safety, Brazil will implement mandatory malaria testing for 100% of blood samples using the NAT Plus exam developed by Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz. This allows individuals exposed to endemic areas to donate after 30 days rather than waiting a year. Additionally, platelet concentrates will have their shelf life extended from five to seven days, and blood bags will adopt the ISBT 128 international standard for improved traceability.