The growing fashion for body art is affecting blood donations, with thousands of recently inked people being put on a waitlist by the Red Cross every year.

Due to the potential risk of infection, a person is not eligible to donate blood for six months after receiving a tattoo.

"In the past seven years we have seen an increase from 11,000 donors deferred a year to about 15,000 a year," Jess Willet, Red Cross WA communications manager, told 720 ABC Perth.

"It includes cosmetic tattoos, things like eyebrows.

"Even though [the risk] is small, we want to make sure that the blood is safe.

"That's why we defer people if they have had a tattoo until we can be sure that there is no infection."

Global shortage of blood donors

This week the Red Cross in Australia joined a global campaign to encourage more people to donate blood.

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"Some iconic Australian brands have actually been dropping the letters O, A and B from their signs — which are the blood types — and that's all part of raising awareness," Ms Willet said.

"We are just trying to raise attention of the need for more blood donors and asking people to pledge if they are eligible and near to a donor centre and can roll up their sleeves."

A number of listeners contacted 720 ABC Perth to say they would like to donate but were ineligible or lived in country areas where there was no Red Cross donation centre.

Ms Willet said the stringent eligibility criteria was not the only threat to the blood supply.

You might not be able to donate if ... you are pregnant or recently haven given birth or currently breastfeeding — you need to wait nine months.

you are pregnant or recently haven given birth or currently breastfeeding — you need to wait nine months. you have cold or flu-like symptoms — you must wait until you're fully recovered.

you have cold or flu-like symptoms — you must wait until you're fully recovered. you have had a heart attack, angina, stroke or leukaemia.

you have had a heart attack, angina, stroke or leukaemia. you lived in the UK for six months or more from 1980 to 1996. More about blood donation eligibility criteria is available from the Red Cross.

"There are quite a number of reasons why people might not be eligible to donate blood. There are a lot of people who can't but there are a lot of people who can," she said.

"Almost 9 million people in Australia are actually eligible to give blood but only 3 per cent of the population actually donate."

One in three will need a transfusion, but few give

The blood supply in Western Australia is currently quite good, but concern remains about the lack of new donors coming through the Red Cross doors.

"Because we are seeing a decrease in the number of new people coming forward, we are relying on 3 per cent of the population to maintain supplies," Ms Willet said.

"One in 30 people donate blood, but one in three will need it in their lifetime.

"So we are trying to get those people that are eligible and encourage them to come forward."