Normal Hb: roughly 12,15 g/dL for women and 13,17 for men. Donation needs at least 12.5, the finger-prick decides on the day. ## The honest answer Haemoglobin carries oxygen; too low is anaemia. The donation cutoff (12.5) protects donors from giving from an already-low reserve. Low reading today is not a diagnosis, hydration, timing and even altitude shift it slightly. Build iron and retry in weeks. ## If this is your moment Blood cannot wait for curiosity to settle, patients wait in hours, not weeks. If you are healthy and between 18 and 65, register as a donor (two minutes, phone OTP) and let the system call you only when someone near you actually needs your group. Related: haemoglobin anaemia · iron levels and blood donation
Your body
Haemoglobin: normal range and the donation cutoff
Normal Hb: roughly 12,15 g/dL for women and 13,17 for men. Donation needs at least 12.5, the finger-prick decides on the day.
People also ask
What is the minimum haemoglobin to donate blood?
12.5 g/dL, measured by finger-prick at screening.
What is normal haemoglobin for women and men?
Commonly 12,15 g/dL for women, 13,17 for men (labs vary).
My Hb is 11.9. Can I donate?
Not today, build iron (see the iron guide) and retest in a few weeks.
About this article
Written by Assam Blood Donor team. Medical review: pending, content follows published national (NBTC/NACO) guidance and is for general education, not personal medical advice. Last updated 11 Sept 2026.
Sources: NBTC donor selection criteria · standard donation-centre practice
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Reading is step one. Registering is step two.
Two minutes, phone OTP, your own 6-digit sign-in code. We contact you only when a patient near you needs your group.
Register as a donor