Just gave blood again, do you?

xarr · 21 Apr 2011 at 07:15

SKILL said:
Same, had some 2 pints/units about 5 years ago now, there seems to be a blanket 'since 1st Jan 1980' policy in place,

I can see why to an extent, but surely the blood I was given was testing, and the blood I would give would be tested, so is there really that big a risk?

It's not a "big" risk, but an increased one. All the questions they ask, are (in theory) about getting blood from the lowest risk group. If the risk from someone who hasn't had a transfusion is X, then the risk post transfusion is 2X and so forth.

Whilst I don't agree with their reasoning on gay people donating, their thinking is that there is an increased occurance of HIV in the gay community and whilst all blood is tested for a wide variety of diseases (including HIV) if there has been a recent transmission (not sure on the time scale, few days I guess?) the tests do not detect it.

I am up to 5 donations now, I don't mind doing it, takes 5 minutes to donate, 30 mins (or less) for the whole session and I get to donate at my local rugby club which is nice. I wish they had more sessions that you could just drop in on, all the ones around here are booked solid and it can be an age before being seen.

Burnsy2023 · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:04

I haven't been able to give blood for a year. The thing is, I've wanted to, but with work, its almost impossible to make a session. I wish they did the occasional weekend.

oddjob62 · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:09

I'm on around 19-20th donation now. Have been tested for platelets but my blood's not good enough

oddjob62 · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:17

Burnsy2023 said:
I haven't been able to give blood for a year. The thing is, I've wanted to, but with work, its almost impossible to make a session. I wish they did the occasional weekend.

If you think it would be worth their while (ie quite a few people in the same boat as you) you could try contacting them to visit you.

https://secure.blood.co.uk/work.asp

DJMK4 · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:19

I am too scared

Supercow · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:21

Skyfall said:
If not, why not?

Phobia - giving blood would be the scariest thing I could do - Id rather swim bleeding with sharks. (an actual phobia, not the kind where people claim to have one, but are just a little afraid)

hawker1986 · 21 Apr 2011 at 08:50

xarr said:
It's not a "big" risk, but an increased one. All the questions they ask, are (in theory) about getting blood from the lowest risk group. If the risk from someone who hasn't had a transfusion is X, then the risk post transfusion is 2X and so forth.

Whilst I don't agree with their reasoning on gay people donating, their thinking is that there is an increased occurance of HIV in the gay community and whilst all blood is tested for a wide variety of diseases (including HIV) if there has been a recent transmission (not sure on the time scale, few days I guess?) the tests do not detect it.

Actually I think that the reason for not being able to donate post transfusion is that with any transfusion your body can produce antigens against the transfused blood. So you donating means a chance on increased antigens which could affect the person receiving it, increasing their chance of a transfusion reaction. People who have received blood in the past get more thorough screening at the lab when they are cross-matched for this reason.

As to the second point in sure your right and its up to 3 months from being infected with HIV to it showing up in your blood on screening.

On topic, I don't but only because I never seem to have time, its something im meaning to do.

Hawker

NB also to whoever said having venepuncture causes embolism back on page 1 ?source please, either horrendously rare or just wrong.

Burnsy2023 · 21 Apr 2011 at 09:00

oddjob62 said:
If you think it would be worth their while (ie quite a few people in the same boat as you) you could try contacting them to visit you.

https://secure.blood.co.uk/work.asp

It's only a small company unfortunately.

alexakasloth · 21 Apr 2011 at 10:29

I've given blood a few times over the last year or so, you've reminded me that I need to give again as it's been a few months.

Chris344 · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:37

Whilst I don't agree with their reasoning on gay people donating, their thinking is that there is an increased occurance of HIV in the gay community and whilst all blood is tested for a wide variety of diseases (including HIV) if there has been a recent transmission (not sure on the time scale, few days I guess?) the tests do not detect it.

My partner had Leukaemia which throughout treatment required around 60 blood and platelet transfusions from start to finish as a result I know a little about how blood is screened and stored, my good friend is also a medical bio scientist who screens blood and platelets. The only disease that cannot be detected is mad cow disease apparently, HIV can be detected within hours, and blood is normally stored and rechecked at a later stage. From being taken from the donor to be transfused the blood will be screen around 8-9 times. Samples from each donor are stored for life for tracking reasons.

I would love to give blood but unfortunately due to my sexual preference I cannot, I have been in a committed relationship for 6 years but this counts for nothing, however I understand the reasons behind this. What I don't understand is why straight people can go on holiday having sex protect and unprotected every night if they wish, come home and give blood without question. The screening process has improved that much within the past 15 years that not a single case of HIV has been transmitted in UK

Having seen the good that giving blood does first hand forces me in to a situation, do I lie about my preference as I am not overlay obvious or do I simply not donate. I am allowed to donate bone marrow just not blood and platelets which is a real shame.

UncleRuckus · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:47

I don't give blood, but if any of my loved ones needed a pint or a kidney I would be the first to offer.

I would give lots of blood however if I knew who and what it was going to be used for.

Burnsy2023 · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:50

UncleRuckus said:
I would give lots of blood however if I knew who and what it was going to be used for.

Why do you need to know who it goes to?

UncleRuckus · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:54

Burnsy2023 said:
Why do you need to know who it goes to?

Well I wouldn't want to give my blood to save a child abuser for example.

Jumblejug · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:57

Donated 3 times now, it's pretty much the only good thing I do

UncleRuckus said:
Well I wouldn't want to give my blood to save a child abuser for example.

Each to his own, but I guess there's a higher probability of it going to a 'decent' citizen. I'd also like to think that if I ever need blood, there'll be some for me.

iviv · 21 Apr 2011 at 15:59

As said above, really. I'd love to give blood, there's nothing wrong with it at all. But if they aren't going to bring the rules up to date, they shouldn't really complain about not having enough blood. I certainly don't want any STDs, I have a partner who's clean, and that's it.

Maybe in a few years. At least I can donate my organs, apparently they haven't caught 'the gay'

nicks3607 · 21 Apr 2011 at 16:00

UncleRuckus said:
I don't give blood, but if any of my loved ones needed a pint or a kidney I would be the first to offer.

I would give lots of blood however if I knew who and what it was going to be used for.

Who = people who need it.
What = to save lives.

Stop being a pansy and give blood next time it's in your area.

Pate · 21 Apr 2011 at 16:02

ewww who wants gay blood.

Oh wait i've been in an accident and have lost 1/2 my blood. Me please!

Seriously though I'm guessing it's due to the lifestyle choices of a fair percentage? Not sure myself but I'm assuming there are some figures to back it up?

UncleRuckus · 21 Apr 2011 at 16:06

nicks3607 said:
Who = people who need it.
What = to save lives.

Stop being a pansy and give blood next time it's in your area.

Like I say, I would rather not help a nonce to live ; but if we were dear friends and was in need I would help you no questions.

Edit: not inplying you're a kiddie fiddler, thought I'd better clear that up

Biohazard · 21 Apr 2011 at 16:08

My father was a severe haemophiliac.

Had it not been for the generosity of others he wouldn't have lived the life he did, and I certainly wouldn't be here as a result either

Now hopefully that don't put too many of you off giving blood

, but the difference really is life and death.

You never know if or when you yourself will need to rely or hope on the generosity of others either.

Give blood

nicks3607 · 21 Apr 2011 at 16:11

I'm sure there are more kind old dears, RTA victims etc than sex-pests queueing up for blood