Egg donor recipients banned from being blood donors

[jen333]

Was shocked when I was turned away from donating blood earlier this month. Apparently, under new guidelines last month, anyone who has been an egg donor recipient is now deemed unsuitable to donate blood. Haven't heard anything in the press about this.

I hadn't heard about this either and I work in an IVF Unit. Seems like overkill and wonder what they are worried might be carried by donor eggs or embryos?! There were some worries about very old types of hormone treatments (which came from pituitary extracts) but way way back before all the CJD stuff was known about.
Must investigate further.

Apparently there's a theoretical risk of the CJD prions being transferred - but why should the donor be at any more risk of carrying than me? I was told that she may have had a blood transfusion at some time. Think all that was screened at the IVF clinic. Anyway, if eggs can carry prions then surely sperm too? That would screen out 50% of potential blood donors. Apparently Europe and America don't accept any UK blood products now. They might as well ban us all!

I've just called to check, as I was planning to give blood, and it's true - if you've had donor eggs then you can't give blood ...

What about those who have been born from IVF, then?