Canadian Blood Services is changing some of its guidelines for blood donors to ensure that they don’t become iron-deficient.

Starting Dec. 10, female donors will need to wait 12 weeks between blood donations. The current waiting period is eight weeks.

And starting in March 2017, male donors will need to pass a slightly stricter hemoglobin test. The minimum allowable hemoglobin level for male donors will increase from 125 grams per litre of blood to 130 g/L.

The hemoglobin molecule contains iron, which is an essential mineral in our diet.

Canadian Blood Services measures hemoglobin levels in blood donors to ensure the quality of red blood cells. When someone donates blood, his or her hemoglobin levels temporarily drop and return to normal in less than 56 days. But in some people, donating blood frequently runs the risk of iron deficiency.

“We continue to promote the health and wellness of donors as they donate the important and generous gift of life,” Michael Betel, the director of donor relations in Ontario, said in a news release.

“Many donors will not be able to donate as often, so others must step forward to fill this gap by giving blood and encouraging friends and family to make giving a part of their lives.”

Canadian Blood Services says it needs 100,000 new donors from across the country this year alone to meet demand. In Ontario, more than 6,000 new blood donors are needed immediately.

To book an appointment and find the nearest blood donation clinic near you, visit the Canadian Blood Services website.