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OBI Welcomes Previously Deferred Donors Due to vCJD

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Were you deferred and couldn't donate blood due to your time spent in Europe?

Our Blood Institute implemented new FDA blood donor eligibility guidance regarding variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly referred to as “mad cow disease.”

People who were previously deferred for European Travel associated with the theoretical risk of vCJD transmission, are now eligible to donate.

Donors who had spent certain lengths of time in Europe have been deferred from donating blood for over 20 years FDA’s new guidance removes the deferral recommendations associated with geographic risk of vCJD for time spent in the United Kingdom (U.K.) from 1980 – 1996; time spent in France and Ireland from 1980 – 2001; and receipt of a blood transfusion in the U.K., France or Ireland from 1980 – present. Prior to 2020, donors were also deferred for time spent in European countries, including many military families stationed abroad.

Note: This does not include donors who have been deferred for travel to malaria-endemic areas.

Those unsure if this eligibility guidance affects them are encouraged to call our eligibility hotline at 888-308-3924.

Find a donation location near you by calling 877-340-8777 or by clicking here