bolton1

My son decided to do some good today and went to register to give blood. he was disappointed, as part of the screening process wont allow donors from UK who have lived there in late 80's mid 90's in case of CJD .

Apparently it's because it can lay dormant in the blood for up to 20 years .

Just thought I'd share for info

Sue

Yep, they've got the same rule over in the USA too. I feel like I should be walking around with "unclean" written on my forehead

Theyes

Same in Australia as well and my OH is "O" negative which is really wanted, but coming from the UK we cant donate

BEVS

Yeh ! We tried to do the same a while back but got the same .

Husband is "A" neg

Persephone

I always used to back in the UK and quite disappointed I can't here. Maybe we could set up a British only donation service-there's so many of us here

janeyk

good idea perhaps we should refuse to accept NZ bllod transfusions and only english blood!!!! lol!
In my last job my boss insisted that every member of staff have a flu jab (I work in Finance in a DHB with no patient contact) I refused saying I would not have NZ germs pumped into me if NZ would not accept my blood !

burbschook

I would be more than happy to give an "armful" for a timtam & cuppa.

Sadly, claiming to have been a vegetarian doesn't swing it either.

A scientist friend of mine told me that there are more deaths in NZ than births.
Surely they could take a chance on us now?

Debbie2NZ

My husband looked this up on nz blood donor site a few months ago and told me I couldn't donate my blood despite being a blood donor here in UK. They also don't want blood from Irish or French donors either.

sarah3

I was going to go along to our next work one....but won't bother now. I wonder what they do about kiwis that went over on holiday during that 20 year period?!?! Well this has given me a good laugh on a Friday.....

Expat Kiwi

Are there?!!!

crap coffee

that's pretty much common sense isn't it? surprising how come you aren't familair with? I knew that when I was a teenager here and found out first time by talking to a professor (Pom). He's been here more than half of his life but never allowed to give blood.

I've never done that either. not that I lived in UK ...coz I am extremely under weight so I am not allowed to. If I give blood then I probably would faint.

bolton1

Honestly it really never occurred to me before - we thought of the obvious viral infections - hepatitis, HIV etc but CJD no - although I have been called a mad cow a few times so ya never know

scrubbedexpat094

They can't give blood either.

Personally, I think that it's ridiculous & that the threat from new variant-CJD is minimal. I'd be quite happy to accept a blood transfusion from anyone who had been in the UK at the time of BSE.

But then I'm a bit of a mad cow too

j19fmm

I was stopped from giving blood in the UK some years ago as I lived in Nigeria as a child. Apparently there is no test for Malaria in the blood () or something, and the blood can be really bad for people with lowered immune systems.
I felt quite put out but also hoped that my previous years of blood donoring didn't kill anyone

BEVS

It's an exclusive club I feel. .