American Red Cross said I can never donate blood!

[tiggerlover]

I just came back from our community blood drive and I was surprised to be told I can never donate my blood. The reason being is because I lived in Italy for 8-1/2 years and the risk of mad cow disease. I asked wouldn't I know if I had mad cow disease and she admitted I would, but that they couldn't use my blood. It is a shame because I have been told my blood type is rare. But I guess they have to ensure the safety of their blood supply, but I never would have imagined it would be forever.

 

[helenabear]

Unfortunatley that rule has been in place for a while now... I know some family/friends who have been affected by that rule. I know currently I am not allowed to give blood until next year (at the minimum) due to one of their rules as well. I guess I would rather someone get healthy blood than worry about all the Hep. C and AIDS that used to get passed. At least you can volunteer to help out in other ways

 

[miste76]

I'm sorry that you were not able to give blood today. Maybe this will help you feel a little bit better about it:

I'm suprised that she told you that you would already know if you had Mad Cow disease. I did my senior project on this when I was in undergrad... it can be undetected for a long, long time. This is part of the reason that it's so scary... a steer can be slaughtered before showing any symptoms, and no one would ever know. The beef is consumed, and although it is very difficult for it to jump species, it obviously has before. There's no way to kill the mutated piece of protein that causes mad cow disease. You had good intentions though... and you should be proud of yourself for that.

 

[mrsv98]

Same here....since I went to University in England I can never give blood. What makes it crazy is that I am a veggie and never had anything remotely like red meat. C-JD can live in the blood for years without any symptoms. There was a news story about a man who died after receiving a organ transplant from a diseased carrier. The donor showed no symptoms until after the transplant. Unfortunaltely, both men died.

Several months ago, I read that researchers were onto a blood test that might detect C-JD so maybe in a few years we will be able to donate. All in all, I am glad that they are doing what they can to keep the blood supply safe.

 

[Laura]

Yup, I'm in the same boat. I lived in the UK for 4 months in 1995. They won't take my blood.

It stinks, but especially after letting HIV into the blood supply a couple decades ago, the Red Cross is ultra-hyper about keeping the supply safe. And that's a good thing. Too bad though, 'cuz I'm O+ and lots of people can take my blood. And it really sucks thinking that they wouldn't take my organs either because I might have the evil "bug" that causes this disease. They're not really 100% sure if it's transmissible through blood, but better safe than sorry.

Part of the problem is that this is such a new disease that they don't know the incubation period, so who knows how long it can be since we've lived in Europe that we can be cleared to donate. Older people die of classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and younger people die of the newer variant C-JD, though, so it seems if you're not dead yet you don't have it. Morbid, isn't it?

 

[LittleMermaidsMom]

Does anyone know why they would limit it to people who have LIVED in Europe? Shouldn't it apply to anyone who has visited also, since you could pick it up at any time. Or is it based on the quantity of meat you consume?

 

[katerkat]

Yup, DH had one bad screening and they won't let him donate ever again. It was a liver problem - turned out to be a bad mix from aspirin for a pulled muscle and alcohol the weekend before. Even though he had it checked by a doctor and is totally fine (though it scared us to death when we got the letter!) he's on the no-donate list for the rest of his life.

 

[PamOKW]

My brother had an experience like katerkat's hubby. Some kind of false result but they still won't let him donate. It's a shame because he was regular donor.

 

[Lucky4me]

DH also can't donate ever again because of a false positive. He has a rare blood type and they would call him in almost every month. I understand the reasoning, but it seems like such a waste.

 

[laurie31]

Originally posted by LittleMermaidsMom
Does anyone know why they would limit it to people who have LIVED in Europe? Shouldn't it apply to anyone who has visited also, since you could pick it up at any time. Or is it based on the quantity of meat you consume?

I think the rule is if you lived there 6 months or more. Or maybe it's 4 months, I can't remember. I went to school in London during my junior year of college and now can not donate. I didn't realize I couldn't donate my organs, either, although I guess it makes sense. (and I also don't remember eating much meat, mrsv98 - I lived on potatoes and rice so I could spend all my $$$ on weekend travel )

 

[ToriLammy]

Another one here no longer eligible to donate since I was assigned to a military installation in England. Sad thing, I donated for years (6) before the ban was put in place. I seriously doubt that they removed all the pints I donated over the years. My son who was born while I was stationed in England is curious as to whether he'd be ineligible since we left before he could actually eat meat. I figure he probably is ineligible.

 

[poohandwendy]

I have a non-life threatening heart arrhythmia and have trouble donating blood. They have me on some 'bad' list..LOL, I was told by one RC person that I could if I had written permission from my cardio within 6 months of the time of donation, another told me even with permission, if my heart beat is abnormal at the time of their reading, I cannot donate.

The funny thing is that I donated regularly before my arrhythmia dx (and it started when I was very young). They just happened to catch it once when I was attempting to donate, been on the 'bad donor' list since. Once you make that Red Cross 'donor blacklist', it seems pretty hard to get cleared from it.

Since I cannot predict when my heart beat will be 'out of whack', I just don't bother anymore. It's a shame, but I strongly encourage my family members and friends to donate...they get tired of hearing it.

 

[poohandwendy]

I seriously doubt that they removed all the pints I donated over the years.

LOL, I picture some old guy searching through vials and vials of blood searching for your potentially 'tainted' blood...

 

[mtblujeans]

 

[Laura]

Here's what the Red Cross says about vCJD and donating blood:

In-Depth Discussion of Variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease and Blood Donation

In some parts of the world, cattle can get an infectious, fatal brain disease called Mad Cow Disease. In these same locations, humans have started to get a new disease called variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) which is also a fatal brain disease. Scientists believe that vCJD is Mad Cow Disease that has somehow transferred to humans, possibly through the food chain.

There is no evidence that vCJD can be transmitted from donors to patients through transfusion. However, nobody knows for certain that this cannot happen, and animal studies indicate that it is theoretically possible. There is no test for vCJD in humans that could be used to screen blood donors and to protect the blood supply. This means that blood programs must take special precautions to keep vCJD out of the blood supply by avoiding collections from those who have been where this disease is found.

At this time, the American Red Cross donor eligibility rules related to vCJD are as follows:


You are not eligible to donate if, since 1980, you :

Spent a total time of 3 months or more in any of these countries:
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Channel Islands, or

Spent a total time of 6 months or more in any combination of these countries:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Boznia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Island, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic of), Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira Islands, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands (Holland), Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Scotland, Slovak Republic (Slovakia), Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican City, Wales, Yugoslavia (includes Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia)

Received insulin derived from cattle (bovine) from any of the countries listed above

Received a blood transfusion in any of these countries:
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Channel Islands

http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html

 

[loisg1]

DH is in the same situation. While in the Navy, the subs he was attached to were based in Scotland. They only spent one month at a time there get the boat ready for patrol. He also has the type of blood that would be helpful to many.

 

[Mamu]

While I understand your disappointment, remember most people who need blood are ususlly very sick with low immune systems. Lots are going through life threatening treatments.

Hep-C was one of these disease. They would test for Type-A&B but knew nothing about Hep-C. Millions of people got blood that was infected with this virus through a blood transfusion.

It's tough to beat one disease only to learn later that while you were undergoing treatments you were infected with another.

 

[Dcat2u]

Same problem here, due to living in Germany (DH is military) we cannot donate. It's is really starting to affect our blood bank here on post due to the deployments 4ID was gone last year and now 1st Cav is gone.


Darlene
Proud Wife of a 4ID Soldier!
WE GOT HIM!!!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Same here. I wanted to get on the marrow registry too. Lived in Germany in the early 90's for 3 years. Mad Cow does not show up for many many years. I hope they do get a test to detect it so all of us can donate!

 

[spearenb]

My question is that are people in Europe allowed to donate blood to European blood banks? Silly question, I know, but if the American Red Cross is afraid of contaminated blood for the weak, shouldn't the European RC (if there is such an organization) be as well?