I first donated blood way back in 1969, shortly after I arrived at Essex University in Colchester. My memory is that it was an amazing feeling: doing something that felt really good that also helped people. Over the next 20+ years I gave blood regularly, twice a year. Then came the “Mad Cow” (vCJD) crisis, and the American Red Cross added “residence in the UK” to the list of proscribed categories for blood donors. Deeply frustrating.
The other day, I received the regular email announcing the next blood donor session here at Sun. I was talking to a colleague, and he said, “Oh, I think they’ve relaxed the rules. Why don’t you check?” So I did. Sadly, no. Here’s the relevant text
At this time, the American Red Cross donor eligibility rules related to vCJD are as follows:
You are not eligible to donate if:
From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK),
So I still can’t donate. And thinking about it, I know a number of US citizens whose UK vacations over that 16-year period would probably rule them out too.