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Original poster

Can You Donate Organs After A Blood Transfusion?

12 replies

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 00:35

Another read just reminded me to ask really... I refused a blood transfusion because I knew you couldnt donate blood after, but wasnt sure about the organ donation thing. The doctor didnt know either... Just asking incase I need one next birth so I can asses it better.

Thanks xxx

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 07/12/2006 00:37

IIRC it is the date of the transfusion that is important. After a certain date the blood was screened in a different way so you could still be a donor again yourself post transfusion.

Will see if I can find info.

Original poster

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 00:38

Thanks

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 07/12/2006 00:42

Found it, I got the thing with the dates the wrong way around.

If you have had a blood transfusion since 1980 then you can no longer donate blood, but bone marrow or organ donation are assessed on an individual basis with access to full medical records.

SaintGeorge · 07/12/2006 00:44

Details

Original poster

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 00:47

oh right, at least I know now, thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 00:48

odd that its since 1980 you cant... I would have thought it would be the other way around...

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 07/12/2006 00:52

Yeah, I was thinking it was before that date because of advances in screening, but the ruling is actually because of vCJD.

Original poster

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 00:58

did it not exist before 1980?

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 07/12/2006 01:04

They didn't know about it until a lot later after that, but that is the date they have picked as an exclusion zone.

"The new precautionary measure to change the eligibility for blood donation will be implemented from April 5th this year. It will exclude people who confirm they have received a transfusion after 1 January 1980 because it is generally accepted that there will have been no exposure to BSE in the UK before than date."

From This DoH statement in 2004

Original poster

Quootiepie · 07/12/2006 01:05

wow, never knew that...

OP posts:

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 07/12/2006 09:48

I can't donate blood anymore but they said I can still give my organs. I think it's basically the choice between probably death and a tiny risk of vCJD for the recipient. Think I know which I'd take.

NotInAnyRush · 08/12/2006 13:43

It was explained to me that you can donate organs but not blood if you've had a blood transfusion, because of how badly the recipient will need them.

In the case of an organ, if they don't get it they will die, so the risk of vCJD is one they can tolerate. But in the case of blood, if they don't get they are not 100% guaranteed to die, so then the risk of getting vCJD becomes a factor

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