Ulsterman in Texas

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I went to donate blood a few weeks ago for the first time as my wife was in hospital and got three units of blood, the blood mobile happened to be in my small town when I came home from the hospital so i decided to pay it forward by donating, however after I did the paperwork I was told because I had spent over six months in the UK between 1980 and 1996 I was not allowed to donate due to BSE/CJD. I felt this was a very discriminatory practice as the risk of CJD is very small and this is an overly cautious, media driven precaution.

civilservant

Saved me a trip in the future, thanks for the heads up.

Noorah101

Similar thing happens to me now and then because I sometimes travel to Turkey, and usually get as far as central Turkey each time. After those trips, I can't donate blood until more than 1 year has passed since the trip.

Personally, I'd rather make SURE the blood doesn't contain anything harmful, rather than take chances. Maybe you can do something else to help out, instead of donating blood.

Rene

civilservant

A quick google found the following article from 2008:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0828135905.htm

Jerseygirl

You cannot be an organ donor either.

BubbleChog

or breast milk

Ulsterman in Texas

I did not know that I asked to have the fact that I would be willing to donate on my state ID card.

Ulsterman in Texas

Doesn't apply to me lol

sir_eccles

I once went to a bone marrow registry drive and asked if it would be an issue and they said no problem. Perhaps when it's a one to one thing like that they can then do further tests to check while they are doing type matching.

Bob

Though that one depends on the state as there's no central type of thing. Down in MA, it's up to you if you want to accept it as the state doesn't get involved at all and it's down to a charity that runs the stuff via FB.

There was talk a year or so ago about lifting the ban, but I guess it never picked up momentum and that was that.

md95065

People who are not eligible to donate blood for transfusion purposes may still be able to donate blood for research - see, for example, this link to the Stanford School of Medecine:

http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu/research/donors.html

You might want to look around and see if a similar program is available in your area.

JAJ

It is. But why should you care, really? It's America's problem, not yours.
(it also affects those who lived in Western Europe, including many American born persons).

NatashaB

You are not allowed to donate blood or organs (although I put the organ donor sticker on my driver's license anyway; I figure they might be able to use them for research at least). You can donate bone marrow though. You don't even need to leave home to sign up, they will send you the donation kit.

JAJ

The bit about organ donation (for former West Europe residents) is probably a myth. Absolutely no evidence to suggest there is any ban. Because the benefits of a transplant to someone are so far in excess of the non-established risk. They can get blood from anyone else.

goldenstate31

yep same thing happened to me I walked out rather embarrased.
They gave me a questionaire to fill out...then they said sorry you cant donate blood