Blood Donors

[Ant]

Grrrrr, every time I see adverts and get a leaflet that says they're low on blood and they need more donors blah blah blah it makes my blood boil.

They won't accept my blood because I have received a transfusion after the 1st of January 1980, this is the most arbitrary rule I've ever heard of, it's ridiculous! Surely there are thousands of people who have received blood through surgery or an accident or something? It really irritates me that they make such a big deal of it all and then rule out large numbers of people from donating

So, who here gives blood? And is there anyone else prohibited from donating for any daft reasons?  

Ahem, rant over now anyway

[Cpl Punishment]

Grrrrr, every time I see adverts and get a leaflet that says they're low on blood and they need more donors blah blah blah it makes my blood boil.

They won't accept my blood because I have received a transfusion after the 1st of January 1980, this is the most arbitrary rule I've ever heard of, it's ridiculous! Surely there are thousands of people who have received blood through surgery or an accident or something? It really irritates me that they make such a big deal of it all and then rule out large numbers of people from donating

So, who here gives blood? And is there anyone else prohibited from donating for any daft reasons?  

Ahem, rant over now anyway

They won't accept your blood because of the unscreened blood that came into the UK-mainly from France and Africa. A lot of it had Hep C, very early stuff had HIV, and some had the human form of mad cow disease. That's why. Sorry.

I lost two very good friends to Hepatitis C. One was a rampant sado-masochist queen (and a Professor) who had unsafe sex everywhere. Aids didn't get him-he was clear of that-a blood transfusion in the late 80's, contaminated with Hep C did. I miss him hugely, as does his still grieving partner. A very good man.

[ksann]

I donate platelets frequently, 89 times so far.

City of Hope



ken

[Ant]

They won't accept your blood because of the unscreened blood that came into the UK-mainly from France and Africa. A lot of it had Hep C, very early stuff had HIV, and some had the human form of mad cow disease. That's why. Sorry.

That makes sense but couldn't they test my blood for it though? I'd sure like to know whether I had it! If it was "good blood" then I should be able to donate? Though given that I had the transfusion in '84 about a week after being born I would've thought that anything in my system would have manifested itself now I dunno how these things work though so I could be wrong

[Cpl Punishment]

That makes sense but couldn't they test my blood for it though? I'd sure like to know whether I had it! If it was "good blood" then I should be able to donate? Though given that I had the transfusion in '84 about a week after being born I would've thought that anything in my system would have manifested itself now I dunno how these things work though so I could be wrong

Ask. You should be clear of Jacob-Creutzfeld by now. The main worry would be hep C. There are tests for it.

[Tombstone]

I used to donate regularly, but now I'm prohibited...I've been in several countries that are on the ban list.

[dinolee]

I donate regularly too.  I've been on a 1 year hold once, due to visiting a city in the Dominican Republic that had a malaria warning.  

[bomber]

every 6 weeks (b neg is pretty rare)

when the whole hiv thing came up, and they atarted asking if I'd had sex with a man since 19whatever it was, and I started, and I started counting on my fingers, they didn't think it was funny

ah well

[Ant]

every 6 weeks (b neg is pretty rare)

when the whole hiv thing came up, and they atarted asking if I'd had sex with a man since 19whatever it was, and I started, and I started counting on my fingers, they didn't think it was funny

hehe, yeah I'd probably do the same    

[falcofred]

I'm O+ the universal donor, so they bug me to donate every 5 weeks so I do. But I often wonder what you Europeans do for blood, because one of the questions that they ask me is if I've ever been to Europe for an extended visit. I never have been (yet) but I think they're worried about mad cow.
The sex questions are ridiculous,
Have you ever had sex with anyone who has ever had sex with anyone, who had sex with some one who lived with someone who had sex with someone for money or drugs?
I'd really get a lot asking those kind of questions to potential sex partners.

[cbsnbiker]

I've donated a couple gallons over my lifetime -- not all at once, of course.  

Quite a few years ago, I asked a coworker why he wasn't going to the corporate blood drive. He said he didn't qualify because he was gay. Oh, well, he held down the fort at the office.

[redember]

I donated a few times, passed out every time, stopped, and will make up for it by putting my organs on the market when I die.

I have quite a few gay friends who are pissed off that they can't donate.

[highside]

I'm O+ the universal donor, so they bug me to donate every 5 weeks so I do. But I often wonder what you Europeans do for blood, because one of the questions that they ask me is if I've ever been to Europe for an extended visit. I never have been (yet) but I think they're worried about mad cow.
The sex questions are ridiculous,
Have you ever had sex with anyone who has ever had sex with anyone, who had sex with some one who lived with someone who had sex with someone for money or drugs?
I'd really get a lot asking those kind of questions to potential sex partners.

O- is a universal donor. O+ is only universal for blood types with a positive RH factor. No one with a "negative" blood type can recieve blood from you. O+ is still quiet usefull as most people are RH+, at least in this country.

[jwhite518]

At my office blood drives you can't donate if you've been to the UK. That eliminates my English co-workers who would love to donate and they meet every other qualification. Silly.

[JamesG]

If you ever need blood I think you'll appreciate the precautions alot more.

IMHO, STFU.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'm O+ and donate not as often as I should. I'd do the platelets more often but it takes an incredibly long time for the process (last time was almost 2 hours - I guess I have slow/small veins).



On the other hand, I've donated eggs (2 of the 3 times were successful) and they can have my organs when I'm done with them  

[R.Markus]

I do.

I think my blood type is the only thing abut me that is positive....A+.

[Busy Little Whiner]

Don't tell no one... but I rather ride an stinky I4 than get stuck by a silly needle...

[bizarro]

I donate at least once a year. A+ Needles don't bother me at all, nor does blood.

[JonS]

I used to donate every eight weeks. That is the recommended time span here.
Now I have stopped because the Puget Sound Blood Center struck a deal with the Dept. of Defense to keep track of DNA.
I have nothing to hide, but WTF?