# How long does blood stay ''good''? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496 "2001-09-14T01:24:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![One\_boy\_army](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/5e9695/32.png) [@One\_boy\_army](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_boy_army)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/1 "2001-09-14T01:24:16Z")
I’m just curious, how long can donated blood stay transplantable? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/2 "2001-09-14T01:33:37Z")
42 days. That’s why it is urged that all blood donations stop for a while. They have enough for now, and blood you give today will go to waste. Wait a month. ---
**Author:** ![One\_boy\_army](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/5e9695/32.png) [@One\_boy\_army](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_boy_army)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/3 "2001-09-14T01:41:47Z")
'Preciate the help. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/4 "2001-09-14T02:41:05Z")
Just wanted to add that the 42 days is for blood that is treated and stored properly. Untreated blood has a pretty short shelf life, which is why many local hospitals don’t do blood donations – they don’t have the facilities to handle large amounts of blood. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/5 "2001-09-14T03:39:19Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope! The search function is your friend. Answered on 9/11/2001: [Shelf Life of Human Blood](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86572) Answered on 9/12/2001: [Blood Storage](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86735) There were also one or two other on-topic, but ultimately irrelevant duplicate threads. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-blood-stay-good/81496/6 "2001-09-14T04:16:12Z")
Since this question has been answered so recently, I’ll close this thread. bibliophage moderator GQ