Male Blood Donors - that pesky sex question...

[chenaya]

What it means: It's never been the Red Cross who's said "Hey, you gay guys can't donate blood." It's the FDA...as I have repeatedly told my gay or bi friends who have come to me frothing at the mouth when they got deferred. Now, the Red Cross and other blood banks have asked the FDA to review that policy and (hopefully) change it

Comments

[meandering]

Woo! Yay for less stupid blood donation questions.

If only the Red Cross did aphresis in my area. Ah well, I figure as long as it's getting out of my body and into others, it'll be fine. ;-)

[eros_wind]

Yes lets hope so.

I have an interesting question on the red-cross blood donation issue. I was once told by a doctor that insted of paying for a STD test, to just give blood as any condition that dosn't have obvious physical symptoms is tested for by giving blood. What are your thoughts on this.

I took the actual tests anyway to be sure

[chenaya]

I think that's the stupidest, most unprofessional thing I've heard from a doctor lately. Why? Here's why - a quote from "What you must know before giving blood", which is a required read before donating:

"Though the tests we use are very good, they are NOT perfect. HIV antibiodies may take weeks to develop after infection with the virus. If you were infected recently, you might have a negative test result, yet be able to infect someone. That is why you must NOT give blood if you are at risk of getting AIDS or some other infectious disease. If you think you may be at risk for HIV/AIDS or want an HIV/AIDS test, please ask for information about other testing facilities. Please do not donate to get tested for HIV, hepatitis, or any other infection.

Consider it this way, Adam - statistics prove that many of us will need donated blood at sime time. Would you want that stuff dripping into your arm to be from someone who thought they might be at risk and was just donating to get tested?

I wouldn't. That doctor's an idiot...

[eros_wind]

I agree with you.