On donating blood and gay men

[silverysalt]

So... I went to donate blood the other day. I have been planning on doing so for a long time and I finally went. It was something I wanted to do at least once in my life

Comments

[zabox]

They ask the same questions in the states.

[silverysalt]

I thought so.
What I wonder is, can someone donate blood if their been given blood(if they get in an accitend or something) outside of US borders? I mean, Canada could be a "safe country"...

[finnish_pirate]

this sounds pretty weird. Never heard that gay men are not allowed to donate blood :O
My best friend is gay and he donates blood every year...so uhm...weird how Germany is so different to Scandinavia in this point.

[silverysalt]

It is weird that it's different since we are both part of the EU.
I mean there is that directive 2004/33 about blood and blood components and there is list "Permanent deferral criteria for donors of allogeneic donations" and sexual behavior is one of the criterias: "Person whose sexual behaviour puts them at high risk of acquiring severe infectious diseases that can be transmitted by blood".
But I guess it doesn't mean that you necessarily need to ban gay men from donating blood.
o.o
I have no clue to be honest XD

[finnish_pirate]

I guess when you made an aids test and it's negative...then you are allowed to spend blood...at least I guess so D:

[silverysalt]

Interesting, since Poland is part of the EU too. But what the EU directive 2004/33 says is that the blood just has to be safe and meet certain requirements but the means by which they make sure it's safe can be determined by each counrty. So maybe they had people's health records there? Or maybe they would have asked questions if you had been allowed to donate? Perhaps.