Blood Donation / Visits to England

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been a regular blood donor for many years, and had gotten used to most of the standard questions they ask: “Have you ever used intravenous drugs,” “Have you ever been to Haiti,” “Have you ever taken human growth hormone,” etc.

But for the last 2 years or so, they’ve been asking “Have you made a trip to the U.K. in the past 10 years?” Until last week, the answer was “no,” but I just spent a few days in London. And I’m curious- the next time there’s a blood drive, I’ll be asked “Have you been to the U.K…” and I’ll have to answer affirmatively.

So… what will happen? Will I be disqualified? WIll there be further questions?

Presumably, there are still blood drives in the U.K., and the British health authorities can’t disqualify everyone who’s ever been in Britain! But how are U.S. authorities likely to deal with people who admit they’ve been to Britain? Will I still be able to donate, or is my blood now tainted in their eyes?

2

I HAVE been there, but they ask how long you stayed, and possibly where you stayed. If it was a few days in London, bleed away! They are looking for variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease, and may turn you away. Or:

from the American Red Cross
Oh, and thank you for donating.

3

The last time I went I was also suprised to see that. I asked one of the nurses and she told me it is because of the mad cow disease outbreak (similar to CJD). CJD and its variants are caused by prions, which aren’t bacteria or virii or anything like that. They have no RNA to give instructions which is very weird (another story/discussion). Supposedly prions can’t be traced with current blood tests, so if you have it, you could pass it to innocent people by accident, and they don’t really want the country to be taken over by terrible, degenerative diseases.

4

Yeah. My blood was unwanted in Australia for the same reasons.

5

As an Englishman (and longtime consumer of beef products), I can’t say that this thread makes me feel a whole lot better. Can I come over to the US and have a complete transfusion, please? About nine pints ought to do it.