Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I've been meaning to donate blood in Spain for some time now and finally got 'round to visiting them today.

Having given over 150 donations in UK (blood and platelets), I really do believe it's the right thing to do.

Well, apparently, us Brits can't donate in Spain in case we have 'Mad Cow Disease'

How stupid is that?!?

That is my understanding too but someone on here said some time ago that they donate blood but I do not know how they manage to.

Rosemary

Hi, butting in from the France forum, it's a question of how long you've been permanently living away from the UK. If you've been an expat since before the Mad Cow Disease, then your blood is deemed OK and not contaminated. At least that's how I've been able to give blood in France without problem (but I'm too old now)

Yup, queued for ages to give blood here in 2004 and was turned away! Even though I have a relatively rare blood type (thought it might come in handy lol) and have been a vegetarian for 30 years...
Don't understand why the blood can't be taken and tested - it's surely tested before use anyway?!

Exactly my point. I've given so many donations in UK - surely they tested the blood?

My blood is the universal donor (O -ve) so quite useful I'd have thought and I also give platelets which are of extreme benefits to babies as well as cancer patients.

There is no test for CJD when it is in its latent stage - that's the reason for the ban.

Have since checked this and they don't accept blood in France if you spent a year in the UK between 1980 and 1996.
If you've lived permanently in Spain since 1996 and they refused your blood, they must be stricter than the French....
And apparently the USA refuses blood from people who lived anywhere in EUROPE during the mad cow outbreak...

I was thinking about this today.

I was turned away for giving blood back in 2004/2005 because "Royal Decree 1088/2005 of 16 September, establishes, for all Spain, an exclusion on donations from persons who resided within the UK for more than 12 months at any time in the period 1980-1996"

Presumably if I ate dodgy burgers, or whatever, I would have developed CJD by now. Does anyone know what the incubation period for CJD is and, if it's fewer than 25 years (2011 minus 1996) are the Spanish health Authorities re-considering our status?

I was always refused too, and now I am too old anyway.

It is all quite nonsensical as they had CJD here too, it's just that they were less open and honest about it than the UK.

My OH has had so many transfusions in the past 21 months that they tell him in the hospital that he is 100% Spanish on the inside and English on the outside.

Rosemary

That same law was the same in Italy as well and us Brits could not ever donate because of mad cow.

That rule was finally scrapped a year or so ago because more than 10 years has passed or something like that, but it is not common knowledge yet. It might be the same in Spain. Ask them to check properly.

I went into a proper blood donor centre and specifically asked for this info.

I tried years ago. Despite being vegetarian for around 25 years, it's not enough, I can't donate either.

Do they ask Spanish people and other nationalities if they lived in/visited the UK at the relevant time

Back in 2006/7 we registered when they came to the local town. Received our cards through the post and donated about three times. However on the last occasion when we went the Dr refused to allow us to donate and took away our cards. Having watched a good friend die from CJD anything that would prevent another person suffering in that way is fine with me.