Brazil updates blood donation rules and waiting periods

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has issued Ordinance GM/MS nº 11.685/2026, introducing new criteria for blood donation that will take effect in October. The updated regulations aim to reduce waiting periods for various medical and aesthetic procedures, leveraging advancements in laboratory testing and infection identification.

Key changes include reducing the waiting period after tattoos or piercings from six months to four months. If the procedure is performed in a facility with a regular sanitary permit and proven safety conditions, the waiting period can be as short as seven days. Other adjustments include reducing the interval after endoscopies or colonoscopies from six to four months, and lowering the waiting period for those who have recovered from pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis from five years to two years.

Additionally, the new rules allow individuals over 70 years of age to continue donating blood, provided they were already donors before reaching that age and pass a clinical evaluation. While the first donation remains restricted to those under 70, the change acknowledges that chronological age alone does not determine a person's ability to donate. Other updates include revised timelines for bariatric surgery patients, cancer survivors, and individuals following sexual encounters with occasional partners.