Language Skills And Use Of An Interpreter
The safety of the blood donor and blood products is very important and therefore it is necessary that the donor understands what the Blood Service staff is communicating and vice versa.
An interpreter can only be used in the case of a hearing disability or symptoms of the autism spectrum. A person with a hearing disability and a person with symptoms of the autism spectrum may be assisted by an authorised interpreter in an interview with the nurse .
Even if a person with a hearing disability or with symptoms of the autism spectrum does not need an interpreter in the interview with the nurse, he or she may be supported, if necessary, by an authorised interpreter, assistant or escort during the donation session.
A visually impaired person may be accompanied by a personal assistant, but the donor and the Blood Service nurse fill in the health status form together.
Are There Supplements That Are Bad For My Liver
Taking too many vitamin and mineral supplements may do more harm than good to a damaged liver.
Pregnancy Birth And Miscarriage
You cannot donate blood if you are pregnant. After giving birth, you must wait at least six months before donating blood.
Also, after a miscarriage, you must wait at least six months before donating blood.
An early miscarriage does not prevent blood donation.
Donating blood once in early pregnancy does not constitute a risk, and blood donation does not increase the risk of miscarriage. However, women attempting to become pregnant are advised to avoid blood donation, since those hoping to become pregnant should keep up a good haemoglobin level.
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Can I Donate If I Have A Cold
No, if you are sneezing and coughing or very congested you should not attend. It is important that you do not have any infection at the time of donating. If you are unsure it is best not to give blood.
Can I donate if I feel ill or have a cold sore?
If you are feeling under the weather its best that you wait until you feel better before you give blood. Use our health & eligibility section to find out more.
Can I donate blood if I am taking antibiotics or have an infection?
If you have had coronavirus symptoms, please read our full coronavirus guidance for rules on attending a session before making an appointment to donate.
You must be completely healed or recovered from any infection for at least 14 days before you give blood. If you are taking antibiotics you may need to wait a period of time after your last tablet. Please follow our advice about donating after an infection. Please also see our advice about donating after antibiotics.
Can I donate if I am pregnant, or have recently been pregnant?
During your pregnancy, you are not able to give blood. If you had a blood transfusion during your pregnancy or at delivery then you will not be able to become a blood donor. Please follow our advice about giving blood during and after pregnancy.
Can I give blood if I am receiving medical treatment or taking medication?
Can I give blood if I have been to the dentist or received dental treatment?
Can I give blood if I have been travelling outside the UK?
Reasons For Other Deferrals Explained
I was diagnosed with hepatitis at a young age. Am I still deferred?
Under Title 21 CFR 610.41, persons with a history of a positive test for hepatitis B virus surface antigen , regardless of age at the time of the positive test, may not serve as a donor of human blood, plasma, or serum.
Donor suitability in regard to a history of viral hepatitis at the age of 11 years or later should be assessed by asking the donor for recollections of experiencing physical signs or symptoms of clinical hepatitis , or having received a diagnosis of viral hepatitis from a physician. Records of laboratory data , if available, may assist the medical director in making the donor suitability determination in the face of an inconclusive history. However, certain isolated laboratory test results should not be considered equivalent to a history of viral hepatitis. In particular, a history of an elevated alanine aminotransferase or a reactive test for antibodies to Hepatitis A Virus or Antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen need not be a cause to defer a donor.
Please be aware, however, that a blood center may voluntarily elect to adopt more stringent donor deferral criteria in its Standard Operating Procedures than those required or recommended by the FDA. Under these circumstances, FDA does require that the blood center follow its own SOPs.
There are two relevant documents available that can further clarify FDA’s current donor deferral criteria:
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General And Local Anaesthesia
Depending on the scope of the procedure, type of surgery and your recovery speed, procedures performed under general anaesthesia or epidural anaesthesia prevent you from donating blood for one to six months.
Minor procedures performed under local anaesthesia prevent blood donation for one to four weeks.
Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .
How And Where To Donate
The need for blood donation is critical and ongoing. From the time of donation, blood can be stored in a refrigerator for only 42 days. Moreover, blood centers typically run out of types O and B, placing patients with these blood types at risk during public health emergencies.
If you are least 16 years of age in most states, are in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds, you are eligible to be considered as a blood donor. You can find where to donate blood near you by accessing the American Red Cross website.
From start to finish, the blood donation process takes around the hour, including 10 minutes to draw one pint of blood.
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Hypertension Or Low Blood Pressure
Hypertension and medication for it are not obstacles to blood donation if the blood pressure can be managed with the drug therapy. To ensure that the body has become used to the effects of the medication, drug therapy must have been started at least two weeks before donating blood.
Low blood pressure and dizziness
If you have low blood pressure, you may donate blood if you are asymptomatic without medication. If your low blood pressure causes symptoms of illness, you take a medicine that raises blood pressure, or if you have fainted because of your low blood pressure, we do not recommend that you donate blood.
Young people often have lower blood pressure, which, for most people, corrects itself with age.
Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .
Who Can Be Treated For Hepatitis C
Treatment decisions should be made by both you and your provider. Current treatments for hepatitis C are very successful and can cure most people of the virus.
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Conditions Which May Disqualify Youfrom Donating Blood
1.If You Have Done Piercing/Tattooavoid donating blood2.You Are Suffering from Cold or Bad Flu3.If You Are Physically Small or Dont Weigh Enough4.If You Have Suffered or Are Suffering From Malaria5.You Took Antibiotics Recently6.If You Have leukaemiaor Any Other Type of Cancerchemotherapy treatment.cancer care planThe Bottom line:
Can I Give Blood After Having Coronavirus Or The Vaccine
Yes, but if you have had COVID-19 please read our full coronavirus guidance for rules on attending a session before making an appointment to donate.
If you have had a coronavirus vaccine as part of the UK vaccination programme, please wait 7 full days after having the vaccine before coming to give blood on the 8th day.
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Can I Get Reinfected With Hepatitis C
If you become infected with hepatitis C infection and then clear the virus , yes, it is possible for you to become infected again.
The chance of another infection with hepatitis C is much, much less than the chance of a first-time infection, but it is not impossible. It has happened in people who continue to use injection drugs, and some studies suggest that it happens even more often in people who are also HIV positive.
In other words, having had hepatitis C once does not make you “immune” to getting hepatitis C again.
The best way to avoid reinfection is to reduce risky behaviors that can result in exposure to the hepatitis C virus: Do not use injection drugs, do not share needles for any reason, avoid blood-to-blood exposures with others, and use condoms if you are sexually active with a new partner or with a partner who has used injection drugs.
The research in this area is ongoing, and we will continue to learn more about this very important topic. But for now, preventing re-exposure to the hepatitis C virus is the only sure way of avoiding infection and reinfection with hepatitis C.
What Are The Tests For Hepatitis C
There are two blood tests needed to diagnose hepatitis C:
The antibody test–called HCV antibody, HCV Ab, or anti-HCV–is done first. If this test is positive, it means that you have been infected with hepatitis C at some point in the past. If your antibody test is negative, then you have never been infected with hepatitis C if you were infected within the past month or so, the test may not be accurate you may needed to be retested at a later date.
However, a positive antibody test does not tell you if you still have hepatitis C. For that, you need to have a HCV RNA test, which determines whether the virus itself is in the bloodstream.
If any RNA is present in the blood after 6 months from time of infection, then you have chronic hepatitis C.
If no RNA is detected in the blood after 6 months, you no longer have hepatitis C.
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What Does It Mean When Different Types Of Blood Tests For Hepatitis C Give Different Results
The first test your provider probably will perform is called an “antibody” test. A positive result means that you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus at some point in your life.
If the result is positive, your provider will perform a second test called hepatitis C virus RNA to see if the virus is still in your body. If the RNA test result is positive, then you have chronic hepatitis C infection.
So what does it mean if you have a positive result for the first test but a negative result for the second?
If You Have Hepatitis C Should You Get A Flu Shot
Yes. Having chronic hepatitis C is actually a good reason to get the flu shot. Chronic hepatitis C is a condition that can increase your risk of complications if you do get influenza. That’s why it is recommended for people with hepatitis C, and most chronic liver diseases, to be vaccinated against the flu.
To stay up to date with your influenza vaccinations, you need to be vaccinated every year–ideally, early in the flu season or as soon as the vaccine becomes available. Typically, flu season is considered to be October to March. It’s best to get vaccinated annually because the vaccine is designed differently each year to target the strains of influenza that are expected to circulate during that particular flu season.
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Questions About Uk Visits And Nvcjd Information
Why are good donors being deferred because they have visited the U.K.?
Regulations enforced by FDA require that as part of the suitability criteria, a donor be free from any disease transmissible by blood transfusion, in so far as can be determined by health history and medical examination.
FDA periodically issues guidance providing recommendations to decrease the potential for transmission of infectious disease when new information or testing methodology becomes available. In August, 1999, FDA issued guidance for Industry entitled, “Revised Precautionary Measures to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Blood and Blood Products”. After reviewing the comments received, FDA further revised the guidance on November 23, 1999. A copy of the most recent revised guidance titled: Guidance for Industry Revised Preventive Measures to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of CJD and Variant CJD by Blood and Blood Products is available.
The guidance states that, “FDA believes that donors who have resided in the United Kingdom may be at risk for exposure to nvCJD. As a precaution, FDA recommends that donors who have spent six months or more cumulatively in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1996 be indefinitely deferred.”
How many people have died as a result of nvCJD?
Where can I obtain more epidemiological information or statistics regarding nvCJD?
Mental Health And Mental Diseases
The majority of patients suffering from mental illnesses or problems can donate blood. However, a prerequisite for donation is that the donor feels well, there has been no need for hospital treatment in the past six months, any possible medication has been in use for at least a month and the donor doesnt have any medication, that could cause adverse effects to the recipient of the blood or the donor himself.
Common antidepressants do not prevent blood donation. Some of them may prevent platelet donation. Sleep medication does not prevent blood donation. Some medication used for the treatment of psychosis and bipolar disorder prevents blood donation.
It is worth checking the effect of medication on blood donation beforehand by calling our free donor helpline on +358 800 0 5801 .
Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .
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Am I Eligible To Donate Blood If Ive Had Hep C
According to the CDC and Red Cross, currently, you cannot donate blood if youve ever had hepatitis C. Clearing the virus spontaneously or being cured of hepatitis C treatment does not make you eligible.1,2
Once your blood has been infected with hepatitis C, your immune system makes antibodies for hepatitis C. No matter if youve cleared or cured of hepatitis C, antibodies will always be present in your blood. You can think of this as a footprint left behind showing you once had hepatitis C.
Having hepatitis C antibodies does not necessarily mean you still have hepatitis C, only that it was there at some point. An antibody test for hepatitis C is typically the first test done to see if the patient has or has had hepatitis C in order to rule out the presence of the virus.
Hepatitis A Vaccine And International Travel
Who should get the hepatitis A vaccine before traveling internationally?
All unvaccinated people, along with those who have never had hepatitis A, should be vaccinated before traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common. Travelers to urban areas, resorts, and luxury hotels in countries where hepatitis A is common are still at risk. International travelers have been infected, even though they regularly washed their hands and were careful about what they drank and ate. Those who are too young or cant get vaccinated because of a previous, life-threatening reaction to the hepatitis A vaccine or vaccine component should receive immune globulin. Travelers to other countries where hepatitis A does not commonly occur are not recommended to receive hepatitis A vaccine before travel.
How soon before travel should I get the hepatitis A vaccine?
You should get the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine as soon as you plan international travel to a country where hepatitis A is common. The vaccine will provide some protection even if you get vaccinated closer to departure. For older adults , people who are immunocompromised, and people with chronic liver disease or other chronic medical conditions the health-care provider may consider, based on several factors, giving an injection of immune globulin at the same time in different limbs.
What should I do if I am traveling internationally but cannot receive hepatitis A vaccine?
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What Are The Side Effects Of Treatment
The direct acting antiviral regimens used to treat hepatitis C today are extremely well tolerated. You may experience mild side effects like headache or fatigue. For details on the side effects, review the handout specific to medication you take.
In rare instances, providers may recommend the addition of the medication ribavirin for more difficult cases of hepatitis C. Ribavirin may cause additional side effects such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, anemia, or rash. Patients who receive ribavirin may need more frequent monitoring for side effects as well as adjustment of the dose if side effects are experienced. For detailed information on ribavirin, patients should review the ribavirin handout.