Blood donation

Lyme Disease Transmission From Blood--

"Although no cases of Lyme disease have been linked to blood transfusion,scientists have found that the Lyme disease bacteria can live in blood that is stored for donation. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors. Information on the current criteria for blood donation is available on the Red Cross website www.redcross.org/donate/give/."

Source:www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_transmission.htm

Although, what one MAY do, isn't always what one SHOULD do. According to my two LLMD's, I contracted Lyme disease from a blood transfusion in 1994. Ever since the surgery my health deteriorated. The doctors couldn't figure out why until over five years ago when they finally dx me as having Lyme disease.

What the guidelines are in UK, I have no clue. The guidelines in US seem a bit murky at this time. But if I knew I had Lyme disease, I wouldn't donate blood as I believe it can be transmitted from one person to another through blood. My conscience would not permit me to donate my blood at the risk of giving this miserable disease to someone else.

Gary

I found several local chapters of the Red Cross who say that if you have chronic Lyme disease, you cannot donate blood. Of course, we can all appreciate the high irony here since many in the medical profession don't even think that chronic Lyme disease exists. My advice would be that if you have EVER had a tick borne infection, NEVER donate blood, even if you are symptom free. The risk of infecting someone who is already weak from surgery or something else is just too great. When I renewed my driver's license last year. I took myself OFF the organ donor registration. I recommend that other people do that as well.

I don't think they want my blood.

Victoria

I used to donate regularly, but I don't think any of us should donate any blood. Even if lyme isn't spread that way, (and NO reason to believe it can't -- that's exactly how the tick caught it - sucking others' blood) too big a risk of co-infections and viruses. Eventually, tho, I will look into having blood drawn for myself only. I know you can do this before an operation, but not sure if you can do it at any time.

Look at it this way: if you can donate blood for yourself only, you are still helping to stock the blood. It's that much less they will need for you if the need arises.

Just saw a flyer for blood donation that made me think. Did a search and thought I'd bump this thread. I guess that's it for blood donation ever again. Good thing I haven't been allowed to donate for years due to low iron.

Need to figure out how to change the organ donation thing on my drivers license too.