Health & Fitness
More People Are Now Eligible to Give Blood
Recently, the FDA further updated its blood donor eligibility guidance on vCJD related to mad cow disease, effectively removing the deferral
In 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its deferral for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) related to mad cow disease, making those who spent long periods of time in certain European countries now eligible to donate blood or platelets. Recently, the FDA further updated its blood donor eligibility guidance on vCJD related to mad cow disease, effectively removing the deferral. Those who spent time in the UK, Ireland and France and have never tried to give blood may be able to donate blood with the Red Cross, beginning Oct. 3. (Those who have previously tried and been deferred from donating will be contacted by the Red Cross once system records are updated.)
This change will impact many who were previously ineligible to give blood or platelets, including some in the military community who have served overseas.
