• Can a potential donor be deferred?
  
  There are many common reasons for deferring potential donors, ranging from age and weight to blood pressure and health history. Every donor is evaluated individually by qualified collection staff personnel.
  
  All blood donors must meet certain standard health requirements, which are established to protect the donors as well as the patients receiving the blood products. Even "regular" donors, who give blood as often as every eight weeks, must be screened before each donation.
  
  There are two types of deferrals - temporary and indefinite. Some deferrals may require additional review by a blood center physician. Indefinite deferrals are usually considered permanent or until new information is available.
  

• What are some common reasons for temporary deferral?
  
  Low Iron (Hemoglobin) - The reason for this deferral is that the test for the iron (hemoglobin) level in the potential donor's blood was lower than the acceptable level for blood donors. The nurse confirms the low hemoglobin by performing a hematocrit test. If it is unusually low the potential donor will be advised to see their physician.
  Since these levels may change over time, the deferral may only be temporary.
  
  Blood Pressure - The blood pressure is measured as part of the health exam. The results are recorded on the potential donor's physical findings card. If the potential donor is on medication, they should continue taking it as prescribed by their doctor. The next time they wish to donate, their blood pressure will be taken again and it may be within the Red Cross' acceptable range.
  
  Medication - It is important to remember that taking medication does not usually defer a donor. The reason for taking the medication, however, may result in a deferral. If a potential donor is deferred, the nurse will make them aware of the required waiting period before their next donation.
  
  
• Who is indefinitely deferred?
  
  A few blood donors are indefinitely or permanently deferred, including people who have cancer, serious heart disease, hepatitis, or are at risk for AIDS.
  
  In mid-October 2001, the American Red Cross implemented a new deferral policy for blood donors due to the spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human form of "mad cow" disease. This always-fatal disease has spread from the United Kingdom to other countries in Europe.
  
  There is enormous scientific uncertainty, no blood test and a long latency period (5 to 10 years) before the disease can be detected. There are no known cases of transmission through human blood transfusion, but animal models have shown it is possible to transmit vCJD through blood.

• Beginning May 17, American Red Cross blood donor guidelines will be changing slightly, including new, less stringent travel restrictions for those having visited the United Kingdom.

• Travel to the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Gibraltar, Channel Islands, Falkland Islands and Isle of Man) will defer only those blood donors who have spent more than three months cumulative time in these areas from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996.

• Travel to the UK during or after 1997 is no longer a cause for blood donor deferral.

• The deferral for donors spending time in Europe remains unchanged. That is, those who have traveled to Europe for six months or more cumulative time from January 1, 1980 to the present (including time spent in the UK from 1980 - 1996) are indefinitely deferred from donating blood.

• These guidelines are designed to prevent the introduction of mad cow disease into the blood supply in the United States.

• Also on May 17: those visiting Iraq are deferred from donating blood for 12 months following their return due to the possible transmission of leishmaniasis, a microorganism transmitted by sand flies.

• Call 1-800-214-9455 (Weekdays, 8:30 AM  9:00 PM) for more information on these guidelines, or to inquire about your eligibility status as a volunteer blood donor. (CL050604A)

Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543)
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