How Long After European Travel Can You Donate Blood?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you have traveled outside of the United States, please wait

14 days

before donating.

Can you donate blood after going to Europe?

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 any country in the United Kingdom (UK), Channel Islands. England.

Can you donate blood if you’ve traveled internationally?

If you have traveled or lived in a country with a high risk of malaria,

a waiting period may be required before you can donate blood

.

Why can’t I donate blood if I lived in Europe?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a ban on blood donations from anyone who has spent more than six months in Britain from 1980 to 1997

because of the possible risk of transmitting the human form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)

.

Can I donate blood if I lived in Germany?

Under the new guidelines, persons who had been ineligible because they resided for 6 months or more on U.S. military bases in Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands between 1980 and 1990 or on bases in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Italy between 1980 and 1996 may now be eligible.

What excludes you from donating blood?

You must never donate if:

You are HIV positive or receiving treatment for HIV

. You are a hepatitis B carrier. You are a hepatitis C carrier.

Can you donate blood after traveling to Punta Cana?

Dominican Republic –

Risk in all areas (including tourist resorts of Puerto Plata and Punta Cana) except no risk in cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago only

. Travel duration greater than 24 hours to areas other than Santo Domingo or Santiago – 1 year deferral after return.

Can I give blood if I lived in UK?


We currently can’t take blood donations from people who lived in the UK for six months or more from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1996

. The UK refers to England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Falkland Islands.

Can I give blood in Australia if I lived in the UK?

Because of this risk of transmission, in Australia donated blood ,

breastmilk and tissues are not accepted from people who lived in the UK for six months or more between 1980 and 1996

.

How long after visiting India can I give blood?

If you have traveled to India, you must wait

three months

from your return to donate. Note that this deferral period was updated from one year on September 17, 2020, due to an updated FDA guidance.

Can you give blood while on your period?


You can safely donate blood during your period if it is required and your period will not be affected by the donation

. It may be better to donate the week after periods, but it is still manageable if you are not bleeding heavily, your haemoglobin is more than 11 g/dl and you are not in any discomfort or pain.

Can I donate blood after traveling to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica


No deferral except for travel to the Limon Province

(except Limon City which is acceptable). Only Limon province is at risk.

How long is mad cow dormant?

According to their calculations, the minimum incubation time ranged from

34-41 years but in men rose to more than 50 years

. They suspect it could be longer for vCJD because the infection was transmitted between species, from cows to humans, which usually takes longer than within the same species.

Can you give blood mad cow disease?

While there have not been any documented cases of vCJD being transmitted by blood transfusions, the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that regulates blood collection in the United States, has recently placed restrictions on whether an individual may donate blood based on how much time they have spent in …

Can I donate plasma if I lived in Europe?

Blood donors are deferred, but

donors of “Source Plasma,” who have lived in Europe (except France and the U.K. as above), may continue to donate

. Unlike blood, Source Plasma undergoes manufacturing into highly processed products (“plasma derivatives”), several of which have been in short supply.

Why can’t family members donate blood to each other?

Family blood donation is generally discouraged as

they are often first time or infrequent donors and do not have a safety history established

. Additionally, mothers may have antibodies that react against RBC, leukocyte, platelet, or HLA antigens expressed on neonatal cells.

Can you donate blood if you have a tattoo?


Most people can donate blood immediately after getting inked, as long as the tattoo was applied at a state-regulated entity that uses sterile needles and ink that is not reused

.

Can diabetics donate blood?


People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are eligible to give blood donations

. You should have your condition under control and be in otherwise good health before you donate blood. Having your diabetes under control means that you maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Do I need to know my blood type to donate blood?


You don’t need to know your blood type

.

Donors may be notified of their blood type following their donation when they receive their blood donor card or by creating a profile through the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

What are the criteria to donate blood?

  • Well and healthy.
  • Age:
  • Weight : 45kg and above.
  • Had minimum of 5 hours sleep.
  • Had a meal before blood donation.
  • No medical illness.
  • Not involved in any high risk activities such as :-
  • Last whole blood donation was 3 months ago.

What is the criteria for donating blood?

Criteria to donate blood


The donor must be fit and healthy, and should not be suffering from transmittable diseases

. Age and weight- Between 18–65 years old and should weigh a minimum of 50 kg. Pulse rate- Between 50 and 100 without irregularities. Hemoglobin level- A minimum of 12.5 g/dL.

Can I donate blood after a trip to Mexico?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that tourists who visit the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, home to many popular vacation spots,

not give blood

.

Can I donate blood after visiting Mexico?

The donation deferral begins from the date of return from a malaria risk area or the date when you end your anti-malaria medication treatment.

A visit in those parts of the country where malaria does not occur is followed by a donation deferral of 28 days

.

Why can’t UK citizens give blood in Australia?

People who lived in the UK in the ’80s and ’90s aren’t able to donate blood in Australia because of concern

donors might have been exposed to Mad Cow Disease

.

What happens if I donate blood before 56 days?

Conclusion: For the majority of blood donors the current interval of 56 days is too short to fully recover from a change in Hb and iron parameters after blood donation.

Regular donation results in lower ferritin levels at baseline compared to new donors

.

Why can’ti donate blood if I have high blood pressure?

You may donate blood as long as your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of donation.

Medications for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating

.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.