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Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…
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Sixteen reasons you will be denied from donating blood
A major goal of transfusion medicine has been to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection to as low a level as possible. What items in your medical history may get you denied from donating blood in the United States? What laboratory testing is done on donated blood prior to transfusion?
YOU WILL BE DENIED AS A BLOOD DONOR IF:
1. You test positive for HIV-1, HIV-2, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I, HTLV-II, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), and T. pallidum (syphilis).
2. You have a fever at the time of donation, or state that you do not feel well, or are taking antibiotics.
3. You may be declined if you have a history of injection drug use or a history of selected sexually transmitted diseases.
4. You have recent exposure to or a history of hepatitis, malaria, CJD (AKA Mad Cow Disease), babesiosis, and Chagas' disease.
5. You have symptoms that may be compatible with HIV infection like persistent fevers, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough or shortness of breath, persistent diarrhea or swollen lymph nodes.
6. You say yes to these questions:
• Have you ever had clinical or laboratory evidence of AIDS or HIV infection?
• For men: Have you had sex with another man, even once since 1977?
• Have you ever injected intravenous drugs?
• Have you engaged in sex in exchange for money or drugs since 1977?
• Have you received clotting factor concentrates for hemophilia or other clotting disorders?
7. You will be turned away for a year if you have had sex with:
• A person who has HIV infection or AIDS
• A prostitute
• A person who currently or previously used intravenous drugs
• For women: a man who has had sex with another man
• A person receiving clotting factor concentrates
8. You have been treated in the past year for syphilis or gonorrhea, received a blood transfusion, experienced an accidental needle stick injury or received a skin or bone graft or a tissue or organ transplant.
9. You have been an inmate at a correctional institution or been incarcerated for more than 72 consecutive hours during the previous 12 months
10. You will be turned away if:
• You have a history of viral hepatitis after age 10.
• You have ever tested (+) for HBsAg.
• You have a history of close contact with someone who has viral hepatitis
• You received a blood transfusion in the last 12 months.
10. You may be denied if you got a tattoo or body piercing within the last 12 months
11. You have traveled to a malaria endemic area in the last year.
12. You received human pituitary derived growth hormone (because of the risk of Mad Cow Disease).
13. Also because of the fear of Mad Cow Disease you will be denied if:
• Have spent =3 cumulative months in the UK from 1980-1996
• Have spent =5 cumulative years in Europe from 1980-present
• As current or former US military personnel, civilian military employees and their dependents, have lived for =6 months at US military bases in Northern Europe from 1980-1990 or elsewhere in Europe from 1980-1996
• Received a blood transfusion in the UK or France between 1980-present
• Injected bovine insulin sourced from the UK.
14. You have a history of a solid organ tumor in the last 1-5 years.
15. You take these medications: Etretinate (Tegison),acitretin (Soriatane) isotretinoin (Accutane), finasteride (Propecia, Proscar),dutasteride
16. You are younger than 16
Even I am surprised at some of the things on this list, are you?
Dr O.
Related Discussions on DailyStrength:
YOU WILL BE DENIED AS A BLOOD DONOR IF:
1. You test positive for HIV-1, HIV-2, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I, HTLV-II, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), and T. pallidum (syphilis).
2. You have a fever at the time of donation, or state that you do not feel well, or are taking antibiotics.
3. You may be declined if you have a history of injection drug use or a history of selected sexually transmitted diseases.
4. You have recent exposure to or a history of hepatitis, malaria, CJD (AKA Mad Cow Disease), babesiosis, and Chagas' disease.
5. You have symptoms that may be compatible with HIV infection like persistent fevers, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough or shortness of breath, persistent diarrhea or swollen lymph nodes.
6. You say yes to these questions:
• Have you ever had clinical or laboratory evidence of AIDS or HIV infection?
• For men: Have you had sex with another man, even once since 1977?
• Have you ever injected intravenous drugs?
• Have you engaged in sex in exchange for money or drugs since 1977?
• Have you received clotting factor concentrates for hemophilia or other clotting disorders?
7. You will be turned away for a year if you have had sex with:
• A person who has HIV infection or AIDS
• A prostitute
• A person who currently or previously used intravenous drugs
• For women: a man who has had sex with another man
• A person receiving clotting factor concentrates
8. You have been treated in the past year for syphilis or gonorrhea, received a blood transfusion, experienced an accidental needle stick injury or received a skin or bone graft or a tissue or organ transplant.
9. You have been an inmate at a correctional institution or been incarcerated for more than 72 consecutive hours during the previous 12 months
10. You will be turned away if:
• You have a history of viral hepatitis after age 10.
• You have ever tested (+) for HBsAg.
• You have a history of close contact with someone who has viral hepatitis
• You received a blood transfusion in the last 12 months.
10. You may be denied if you got a tattoo or body piercing within the last 12 months
11. You have traveled to a malaria endemic area in the last year.
12. You received human pituitary derived growth hormone (because of the risk of Mad Cow Disease).
13. Also because of the fear of Mad Cow Disease you will be denied if:
• Have spent =3 cumulative months in the UK from 1980-1996
• Have spent =5 cumulative years in Europe from 1980-present
• As current or former US military personnel, civilian military employees and their dependents, have lived for =6 months at US military bases in Northern Europe from 1980-1990 or elsewhere in Europe from 1980-1996
• Received a blood transfusion in the UK or France between 1980-present
• Injected bovine insulin sourced from the UK.
14. You have a history of a solid organ tumor in the last 1-5 years.
15. You take these medications: Etretinate (Tegison),acitretin (Soriatane) isotretinoin (Accutane), finasteride (Propecia, Proscar),dutasteride
16. You are younger than 16
Even I am surprised at some of the things on this list, are you?
Dr O.
Related Discussions on DailyStrength:
Is there any reason a person with MS should not donate their blood? I searched the web a bit but couldn't find anything that said one way or the other. My gut kinda tells me it might not be a smart idea, but that might just be the part of me that has had enough with needles! ;) Posted on 12/16/07, 06:21 pm- As I was relaxing one thursday afternoon, A friend texted me and told me that they were at a blood drive.(Friend is Gay). I was like okay and good luck. About two minutes later, he told me that I should go and see if I could go and donate blood. A while later, he texted me and said he wasn't able to donate blood because he's gay. I was like huh? Posted on 04/04/08, 06:18 pm
- Here's the situation: I was on coumadin Jan 07 - Nov 08. I am now taking 160mg aspirin daily, for the rest of my life. With my history of a dvt (which was a one off, caused by the contraceptive pill) and the fact I am now on aspirin, will I be permitted to give blood? Posted on 02/09/09, 09:20 pm
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None of the reason's surprised me, except in that it seems they are more concerned about the person receiving the blood than the person giving it; which I'm sure I'd be very glad of if I ever needed it!
7. You will be turned away for a year if you have had sex with:
• A person who currently or previously used intravenous drugs
• For women: a man who has had sex with another man
Not very likely most people will say, "Hey, I used to shoot up!" or that guys are gonna tell their women they're bisexual.