You may be eligible now. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted a longstanding ban that prevented some 4.4 million Veterans, service members and civilians stationed in certain parts of Europe between 1980 and 1996 from donating blood.Jan 14, 2021
You may not donate if you received a blood transfusion since 1980 in France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Falkland Islands. This requirement is related to concerns about variant CJD, or 'mad cow' disease.
Mad Cow Scare Linked to Blood Shortage. Feb. 21, 2003 -- In 2001, in an attempt to protect the nation's blood supply from mad cow disease, the FDA banned blood donation from people who had previously lived in Europe.Feb 21, 2003
Myth 3: You can't donate blood if you have traveled or lived overseas. Most international travel will not interfere with blood donation. However, there are a few limitations related to outbreaks of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease.Jun 8, 2021
You are not eligible to donate if: From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in any country in the United Kingdom (UK), Channel Islands.Mar 7, 2022
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a ban on blood donations from anyone who has spent more than six months in Britain from 1980 to 1997 because of the possible risk of transmitting the human form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Family blood donation is generally discouraged as they are often first time or infrequent donors and do not have a safety history established. Additionally, mothers may have antibodies that react against RBC, leukocyte, platelet, or HLA antigens expressed on neonatal cells.
Because of this risk of transmission, in Australia donated blood , breastmilk and tissues are not accepted from people who lived in the UK for six months or more between 1980 and 1996.Apr 4, 2018
"Currently, according to FDA regulations, anyone who has spent a total of six months or more in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands) between 1980 and 1996 is not eligible to donate blood," the ARC web page stated.Feb 16, 2011
The ban was meant to prevent transmission of a deadly brain disease commonly known as “mad cow disease.” Army Veteran Elizabeth “Liz” Zemba, after donating blood. The fatal disease is believed to be acquired by consuming contaminated beef. U.S. bases at the time sourced potentially tainted beef from the United Kingdom.Jan 25, 2021
Members of the military deployed to certain countries, including Afghanistan, also are prohibited from giving blood for three years after they return. And anyone who receives a smallpox shot will have to wait a month before being able to donate.