FDA Allows Those Who Lived or Served Overseas to Donate Blood

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency that regulates blood donation, changed blood donor eligibility to help safely increasing the number of people who are eligible to give blood.

The FDA eliminated the deferral for donating blood for those who were previously deferred due to spending time or living in the United Kingdom, France or Ireland. The FDA determined there is no longer a risk of transmitting Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease (or mad cow disease) to patients receiving blood transfusions.

Also, those who have lived on U.S. military bases in Europe from 1980 to 1996 and France or Ireland from 1980 to 2001 are allowed to donate blood.

“We are excited to be able to welcome blood donors who may have been deferred from donating in the past,” said LifeSouth District Director Sharon Carpenter. “Blood donations are needed now to make sure our local hospitals have the blood needed to treat patients.”

Blood donors who were previously deferred for living in or traveling to the UK, France or Ireland are asked to come in and donate blood. Please visit lifesouth.org or call 888-795-2707 to schedule an appointment to donate or to find out more information.

LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood center serving hospitals in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee.