My mother contacted Hepatitis from a blood transfusion. This was back before they were as cautious as they are now on testing.

(Sat-26-01-2019, 04:40 AM)Kat Wrote: My mother contacted Hepatitis from a blood transfusion.  This was back before they were as cautious as they are now on testing.

Yes I think they are a lot more careful now. And rightly so.

France changed one of their rules in 2016 and allowed Gay men to give blood, but they have to abstain from sex for 12 months. So great that they lifted the ban, but how many are going to abstain from sex for 12 months just to give blood.

(Sat-26-01-2019, 13:01 PM)Fred Wrote:

(Sat-26-01-2019, 04:40 AM)Kat Wrote: My mother contacted Hepatitis from a blood transfusion.  This was back before they were as cautious as they are now on testing.

Yes I think they are a lot more careful now. And rightly so.

France changed one of their rules in 2016 and allowed Gay men to give blood, but they have to abstain from sex for 12 months. So great that they lifted the ban, but how many are going to abstain from sex for 12 months just to give blood.

I doubt if any will that's a big ask ....
I know when it was first found it was mostly gay men that got it but these days it's both sexes and as long as a blood test gives the all clear I would think it's safe to give blood ....but there's always the fear of an infection getting missed or not picked up in tests ....sadly there will always be risks with transfusions but without them many more people would die,

What is a scandal in the UK all the people who were contaminated with the bad blood from the USA several years ago were just ignored and allowed to die with out help or any compensation. Clare has a friend in this position at the moment who will die soon and she can't even get help at home.