WTC: Who CAN'T give blood?

Just wonderingm in the aftermath of the WTC attack. Who cannot give blood (according to the red cross)? I tried their website, but I can’t get through.

Diabetics, gosh darn it. My blood can’t even keep ME alive without artificial flavorings.

I can’t get through to them either, but I found this:

http://www.who.int/bct/Main_areas_of_work/BTS/Blood%20Donors.htm

If you spent a significant time in Europe then you are not allowed because of mad cow disease worries. You can’t give blood if you are HIV positive. You can’t give it if you are underweight. There are other restrictions.

Here’s the first list I could find, for the Pennsylvania Blood Bank. I think the Red Cross restrictions are somewhat stricter. In addition to the situations listed below, people who are currently suffering from any infectious ailment should not donate, and I know from personal experience that anyone who has been treated for Lyme disease (and therefore presumably had Lyme disease) is discouraged from donating for 6 months after the treatment is completed.

Allergies–Donors with active allergies are asked to wait until theyare symptom-free.

Asthma–Acceptable, if there have been no symptoms without medication (other than inhalers) for the past 6 months; otherwise, donor will be deferred.

Blood Pressure–There are no restrictions for blood pressure medication, however, blood pressure must be within our acceptable range.

Cancer–Individuals with a history of melanoma, lymphoma or
leukemia are permanently deferred. Individuals with a history of basal cell carcinoma of the skin are acceptable. Those with a history of other types of cancer will be referred to a hospital.

Diabetes–There is no restriction, if the diabetes is controlled by diet or oral medication. Those requiring insulin injections may not donate.

Ear Piercing–Acceptable, when done in a sterile environment. Non-sterile, defer for 12 months.

Heart Attacks–Anyone who has had a heart attack will be referred to an area hospital.

Hepatitis–Donors who have had hepatitis after age 10 are permanently deferred. Donors who have been in close personal contact with someone with hepatitis are deferred for 12 months.

Malaria–Contact the CPBB for up-to-date information.

Medication–Contact the CPBB for up-to-date information.

Pregnancy–There is a 6-week waiting period after a normal vaginal delivery or a C-section. There are no restrictions on nursing mothers.

Surgery–Contact the CPBB for deferral time for a specific surgery.

Tattooing/Body Piercing–There is a 12-month deferall after tattooing or body piercing.

I am permanently banned from giving blood.

To donate blood, you must identify yourself, and the Red Cross checks your name in their d-base. Even in emergencies, they have hand held units that give them access to banned lists.

I am banned because I took steroids for sports in school. Some were administered with needles.

The use of controlled substances gets you banned for life.

This is the list for puget sound blood centers. I would guess that red cross is similar.

What about medicated epileptics? Had always assume I couldn’t give. Really would like to know for sure if somebody can tell me.
Thanks, guys.

One of the local stations here in NYC said that donor centers are accepting blood only from persons with blood donor cards. I assume that being a card-holders means you have already been cleared to donate for medical reasons.

The American Red Cross eligibility guidelines, from a Google cache.

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:aTcFnFRQL-E:www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/learn/eligibl.html+red+cross+deferred+donation&hl=en

Additionally, today (at least in Manhattan, where blood centers have been mobbed), anybody who has travelled outside of the US and Canada within the last three years or who has taken any prescriptions in the last three months is being turned away. The blood centers are so overloaded that anyone who isn’t type O or doesn’t meet the extra requirements is being turned away.

Because my job takes me outside of the US, to developing countries (Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, etc), I was told that I could not the last time I tried to give.

My last overseas trip was Honduras, in January 2001. Anyone know if I’d be blocked? I’m going over in the morning to check, but if I can get a straight answer, I could be saved from possibly wasting their time.

Damn lousy timing. I’m O+ and have very good blood (at least that’s what I was told the last time I donated). But because of some medications I’m taking right now to fight an infection, I can’t give.

You are also allowed to give only every 52 days or so. I donated about two weeks back, a direct donation for my little nephew with liver cancer (we are both type B positive); asked today if I could donate again (I’m a fairly big guy, good health, good hemoglobin), especially since I live not all that far from NYC, was told politely but firmly NO.

I’ve been refused twice:

I don’t meet the weight requirement, and once when I had bulked up to a whopping 118 lbs I was refused because I had been taking anti malarial drugs within the previous 12 months.

It’s embarassing to be refused - they make you go and sit on the bench with the hemopheliacs!

I can’t. Wish to God I could.

I had mononucleosis-hepatitis at age 18 and had to take oral steroids to get my beat-up liver back into some kind of shape.

The Red Cross has changed the deferal to 3 months in the UK and 6 months in the rest of Europe. This keeps me from donating.

I can’t give blood because I lived for a year in the UK three years ago; however, I can volunteer at the Blood Bank by directing people to their blood-type areas, helping them fill out forms, handing out cookies and juice, that sort of thing. There’s probably something all of us can do.

Wow, I’m surprised by the diabetics ruling…my mom is Type I diabetic and has been for many years, and she’s a regular blood donor. I don’t think she goes to the Red Cross, though, so different banks might have different restrictions. If you want to give blood and they won’t let you because of what you think are unimportant particulars, call around and see if someone else will take your blood.

Pretty exhaustive lists above, but this addendum: I was found to have antibodies to the Hep B virus in my blood the last time I donated - or tried to. They wouldn’t let me. My doc said that I may have NEVER had Hepatitis, or that it may have been a minor infection when I was even a teenager -(I’m 57), and I’m not infected. I don’t have the virus. I don’t even have the angtigen. But, alas, I’m permanently fired from blood donation, something I always took pride in. So, to the OP - that’s another one that has to be on the list.