Post
by jamoni » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:53 pm
DONOR ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
GENERAL GUIDELINES
To donate blood for transfusion to another person, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, not have donated blood in the last 56 days and be in good, general health.
Good, general health means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, you must have that condition under control.
Other aspects of each potential donor's health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and blood count (hemoglobin or hematocrit) are measured.
UPDATED ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The American Red Cross recently announced positive changes for blood donors, including updated eligibility requirements.
A significant change to Red Cross policy involves tattoos. Anyone who gets a tattoo from a licensed tattoo parlor in the state of Missouri is eligible to donate immediately.
Another major change relates to travel overseas. Donors who were not eligible due to travel overseas in the past may be able to donate again. Thanks to new research about the risk of Mad Cow Disease from eating contaminated beef and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the Red Cross has adopted the current FDA recommendations for donor deferral due to travel to the United Kingdom and Europe. Since these recommendations are somewhat less restrictive, deferred donors may be able to begin donating again.
Donors may be able to donate blood again if they have spent less than a cumulative time of:
5 years (used to be 6 months) in Europe beginning January 1, 1980, to the present OR
3 months in the United Kingdom from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996 (used to be present day) , OR
6 months as a member of the U.S. military, on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified timeframes
o From 1980 through 1990- Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland) or Germany
o From 1980 through 1996- Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece.
If anyone believes they now qualify to be a Red Cross blood donor and would like to donate again, they must call the American Red Cross at 800-447-8470, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., and ask to speak with a Donor Health Counselor. They must call first to ensure re-eligibility and to be removed from the donor deferral list. Donors who do not call first will not have been removed from the list and will not be eligible to donate again. Staff at blood drives and at permanent donation sites will not be able to confirm re-eligibility or update the donor list. Removing previously ineligible donors from the donor deferral list takes a little time, and the Red Cross thanks donors for their patience in ensuring a safe blood supply for our community.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
Note: The list below is not complete. Medical professionals are available at each blood collection center and details of each donor's health and activities are discussed in a confidential setting prior to blood donation. The final determination of eligibility is made at that time. Some donor eligibility rules are specified by the Food and Drug Administration for every blood bank in the country. Other rules are determined by the particular blood bank and may differ between programs. Donor eligibility rules are intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion. The criteria listed below are provided as guidelines to assist you in determining whether you may be eligible to be a blood donor. There may be changes to these guidelines as necessary. The most up-to-date eligibility information can be obtained by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Allergy, Stuffy Nose, Itchy Eyes, Dry Cough
Acceptable as long as you feel well, have no fever and have no problems breathing through your mouth.
Antibiotics
Acceptable if you have completed the last dose of antibiotics for an infection (bacterial or viral) and are symptom free. Acceptable if you are taking antibiotics to prevent an infection, for example, following dental procedures or for acne. Antibiotics for acne do not disqualify you from donating. If you have a temperature above 99.5 F, you may not donate until the fever has passed.
Asthma
Acceptable as long as you are not having difficulty breathing at the time of donation, and you otherwise feel well. Medications for asthma do not disqualify you from donating.
Autoimmune Diseases
You are not eligible to donate if you have some types of generalized autoimmune disease including multiple sclerosis.
Blood Pressure, High
Acceptable as long as your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of donation. Medications for high blood pressure do not defer you from donating.
Blood Pressure, Low
Acceptable as long as you feel well when you come to donate. If your blood pressure normally runs low, it may be more difficult for your body to adjust to the volume loss following donation, especially if you are dehydrated. Drinking extra water before and after donation is important.
Blood Transfusion
Wait for 12 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in the United States. You may not donate if you received a transfusion since 1980 in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man), Gibraltar or Falkland Islands. This requirement is related to concerns about variant CJD, or 'mad cow' disease.
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:
o Spent a total time of 3 months or more from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996 in any of these countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Channel Islands, or
o Spent a total time of 5 years or more in any combination of these countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia/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)
o Received insulin derived from cattle (bovine) from any of the countries listed above
o Received a blood transfusion in any of these countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Channel Islands
Cancer - "Hodgkin's Disease"
Acceptable if you have been free of cancer for five years, and five years have passed since the last chemotherapy, radiation or surgical treatment. The same rule applies to cancer recurrences.
If you have had leukemia, lymphoma, “carcinoma-in-situ” or squamous or basal cell skin cancers, you are not eligible to donate.
You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.
Cholesterol, high
Acceptable. Medications to lower the cholesterol level do not disqualify you from donating.
Cold, Flu, Sore Throat
Wait if you have a fever or a productive cough (bringing up phlegm).
Wait if you feel unwell on the day of donation.
Wait until you have completed your last dose of antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection.
Dental Procedures
Acceptable after teeth cleaning, scaling, root canal, fillings and tooth extractions as long as there is no infection present.
Wait for three days after having other types of oral surgery, or after treatment for an abscess or infection in the mouth.
Wait two days after finishing antibiotics for a dental infection.
Diabetes mellitus
Acceptable two weeks after starting insulin.
Medications to lower your glucose level do not defer you from donating. If you have received an injection of bovine (beef) insulin made from cattle from the United Kingdom since 1980, you are not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about variant CJD, or 'mad cow' disease.
Heart Disease
In general, acceptable as long as you have no restrictions on your physical activities, take no medications for heart disease other than aspirin and have no current (within the last six months) heart-related symptoms such as chest pain.
Wait at least six months following an episode of angina.
Wait at least six months following a heart attack.
Wait at least six months after bypass surgery or angioplasty.
If you have a pacemaker, you may donate as long as your pulse is between 50 and 100 beats per minute with no more than a small number of irregular beats, and you meet the other heart disease criteria. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.
Malaria
Wait three years after completing treatment for malaria. Wait 12 months after returning from a trip to an area where malaria is found. Wait three years after moving to the United States after living in a country where malaria is found.
If you have traveled outside of the United States, your travel destinations will be reviewed to see if you were in a malaria-risk area. It would be most helpful if you came prepared to report the country and city or destinations to which you traveled, as well as the travel dates.
Medications
In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor. Your eligibility will be based on the reason that the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted.
There are a handful of drugs that are of special significance in blood donation. Persons on these drugs have waiting periods following their last dose before they can donate blood:
· Accutane (isoretinoin), Proscar (finasteride), and Propecia (finasteride) - wait four weeks.
· Avodart (dutasteride)-wait six months from the last dose.
· Aspirin, no waiting period for donating blood. However you must wait 36 hours after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis.
· Chemotherapy-type drugs used for conditions other than cancer are acceptable as long as the underlying condition is not a cause for deferral.
· Coumadin, Heparin or other prescription blood thinners- you should not donate since your blood will not clot normally. If your doctor discontinues your treatment with blood thinners, wait five days before returning to donate.
· Human pituitary-derived growth hormone at any time-you are not eligible to donate blood.
· Lupron used for condition other than cancer-acceptable as long as the underlying condition is not a cause for deferral.
· Plavix-wait 36 hours after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.
· Soriatane (acitretin)-wait three years.
· Tegison (etretinate) at any time-you are not eligible to donate blood.
· Ticlid-wait 36 hours after taking this medication before donating platelets by apheresis.
If you ever took Tegison (etretinate), you are not eligible to donate blood. If you ever took human pituitary-derived growth hormone, you are not eligible to donate blood. If you take aspirin, you can donate blood. However you must wait 36 hours after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating platelets by apheresis. If you take Ticlid or Plavix, wait 36 hours after taking these medications before donating platelets by apheresis. If you are taking prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin or Heparin, you should not donate since your blood will not clot normally. If your doctor discontinues your treatment with blood thinners, wait five days before returning to donate.
ZOMBIES
No zombies will be allowed to donate blood. Nor will members of Zombie Club or anyone who has had sexual relations with a zombie. EVER.
Last edited by
jamoni on Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
JoergS wrote:Realistically, I think I can launch a nine pound chain saw at 50 fps from a shoulder mounted rubber powered bazooka...
squinty wrote:I reserve the right to yell "Dookyhole!" - or it's Hebrew equivalent if such a thing exists - whilst dispensing a barrage of palm strikes at my opponent.
type, and quite possibly shenanigans that will become legend. You'll hate yourself and so will I if you miss it.
