The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now removed the referral guidelines for potential donors who were deferred from donating blood because of Mad Cow Disease (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or vCJD). It’s a rare disease of the central nervous system. Despite initial concerns of potential transmission, science continues to show that the transmission risk of Mad Cow Disease by blood components remains only theoretical.
This means that many of those individuals who were ineligible to donate blood because they…
• Spent time in the United Kingdom from 1980-1996
• Spent time in France & Ireland from 1980-2001
• Were U.S. Military personnel that were stationed in Europe
• Received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom, France or Ireland from 1980-present
… are now eligible to donate blood at SunCoast Blood Centers! We at SunCoast Blood Centers are looking forward to welcoming back previously deferred donors.
The new FDA rules on Mad Cow Disease & Blood donation were recently featured on SNN’s Suncoast FYI.
To those who are now eligible to donate, please call us at
1-866-97-BLOOD to make your blood donation appointment.
We hope to see you soon at SunCoast Blood Centers!