I was just playing devil's advocate bro that makes sense.
I went ahead and checked out the local blood center's
website.
I find it odd that living in Europe for 5 years or more is a permanent disqualification.
Also if they are not testing every unit and somebody doesn't know they are HIV infected that is a scary thought.
Sorry to hijack your thread Oz!
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You may NOT donate at any time (permanent disqualification) if you have/had:
a. Tested positive for HIV
b. Participated in high-risk behaviors associated with HIV infection. At this time, this does include any sexual contact between men since 1977.(This policy is being reviewed by the FDA at the request of the blood banking community, including Hoxworth Blood Center, through representative agencies such as America?s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross. Until FDA decides otherwise, we currently have to continue to defer men who have had sexual contact with men since 1977)
c. Hepatitis A after the age of 11
d. Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus infection at any age
e. Spent time in Europe that adds up to five or more years (since 1980)
f. Other* (between 1980-1996) If you spent three months or more in the United Kingdom or were a member of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military.
g. Certain forms of Cancer*