Question about giving blood
Hey all
So my high school senior had a chance to give blood today at school and just had a question maybe you guys could answer.
This is what he told me..I don't have personal experience here...
I guess before you give blood you sit in front of a computer and answer questions.. They also do a finger ***** and check that for something(don't know what). While filling out the question he said one of them was ( I am not sure exactly how it is put but this is the gist).
If you are a man, have you ever had sexual contact with another man?
If you are a women have you ever had sexual contact with a man who has had sexual contact with another man?
My son tells me if you answer YES to this question your told you cant give blood.
So my question is this...
If you are a gay man are you excluded from being a blood donor?
So my high school senior had a chance to give blood today at school and just had a question maybe you guys could answer.
This is what he told me..I don't have personal experience here...
I guess before you give blood you sit in front of a computer and answer questions.. They also do a finger ***** and check that for something(don't know what). While filling out the question he said one of them was ( I am not sure exactly how it is put but this is the gist).
If you are a man, have you ever had sexual contact with another man?
If you are a women have you ever had sexual contact with a man who has had sexual contact with another man?
My son tells me if you answer YES to this question your told you cant give blood.
So my question is this...
If you are a gay man are you excluded from being a blood donor?
yes, they test the blood, but they still adhere to the policy set by the u.s. food and drug administration that any man who has had sex with a man -- even once -- since 1977 is unable to donate blood. it began in 1983, when hiv first emerged, so it's been 15 years, not 20 as i misstated earlier.
the same criteria is not used for other high-risk groups, i.e. heterosexual men who have had sex with prostitutes (more than a year ago) are able to donate. and when people read all the exclusions for donating blood, they may mistakenly believe they are not at risk.
the blood banks have fought the fda to get the policy changed. but the fda won't budge.
http://www.fda.gov/cber/faq/msmdonor.htm (you will be outraged).
the same criteria is not used for other high-risk groups, i.e. heterosexual men who have had sex with prostitutes (more than a year ago) are able to donate. and when people read all the exclusions for donating blood, they may mistakenly believe they are not at risk.
the blood banks have fought the fda to get the policy changed. but the fda won't budge.
http://www.fda.gov/cber/faq/msmdonor.htm (you will be outraged).
~watch me grow... while I shrink~
This issue REALLY ****** me off. I was a RELIGIOUS blood and platet donor. I gave on a regular basis like clockwork. I gave platelets like clock work. And no, I never went to a place where you made money.. I donated.
The last time I gave blood I went through the normal questionaire and when I got to the point where it said "have you had sex with another man" I checked no. (at that point in time I had only had oral sex) When I got home I thought OMG what if.... so I called them up and told them about being gay and they thanked me... and apparently removed me from their list of donors.
Sad thing about it... I have universal blood, hence why I always donated.
I really wish they'd appeal this. Giving blood is such a great thing for the community and it makes you feel so good.
The last time I gave blood I went through the normal questionaire and when I got to the point where it said "have you had sex with another man" I checked no. (at that point in time I had only had oral sex) When I got home I thought OMG what if.... so I called them up and told them about being gay and they thanked me... and apparently removed me from their list of donors.
Sad thing about it... I have universal blood, hence why I always donated.
I really wish they'd appeal this. Giving blood is such a great thing for the community and it makes you feel so good.
Well now I was heterosexual till I got a blood transfusion from a gay donor in 1990.
Of course I'm kidding. But, I could never understand that. I mean if I am HIV- then I am HIV- and would not be harm to anyone and my blood is as good as any ones. I mean If I were the only choice and you needed blood would you turn down my offer. I have been turned down MANY TIMES for admitting I was gay and I am a universal donor... Its never made sense to me at all.
Gay men aren't excluded from giving blood because they're gay; men who have had sex with other men are excluded from giving blood because they've had sex with other men. This dates from before the discovery of HIV and the introduction of HIV antibody tests and blood screening, but is still in effect.
No one has a "right" to donate blood. As it is, anyone receiving blood, even today with all the various tests and procedures in place, is still at slight risk of contracting a variety of transmissible diseases, with HIV being much less of a worry than so others. Screening tests aren't 100% accurate, and these broad donor heuristics are imperfect additions to help ensure the safety of the blood supply.
I had to have 4 pints of blood and/or packed red cells after my RNY due to post-op bleeding. When I learned that I could choose either receiving blood or likely remain anemic for months which I was recuperating, I OKed being given the blood, but I was NOT a happy camper. Luckily, it seems that I dodged THAT bullet.
I have a fairly rare blood type, O negative, and I would love to donate regularly, as I used to before 1982 or so. But I don't feel that my rights are being infringed upon.
/Steve
No one has a "right" to donate blood. As it is, anyone receiving blood, even today with all the various tests and procedures in place, is still at slight risk of contracting a variety of transmissible diseases, with HIV being much less of a worry than so others. Screening tests aren't 100% accurate, and these broad donor heuristics are imperfect additions to help ensure the safety of the blood supply.
I had to have 4 pints of blood and/or packed red cells after my RNY due to post-op bleeding. When I learned that I could choose either receiving blood or likely remain anemic for months which I was recuperating, I OKed being given the blood, but I was NOT a happy camper. Luckily, it seems that I dodged THAT bullet.
I have a fairly rare blood type, O negative, and I would love to donate regularly, as I used to before 1982 or so. But I don't feel that my rights are being infringed upon.
/Steve
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