Memorial Blood Centers Welcomes Previously Deferred Donors Who Lived in Europe
The FDA has updated its guidance regarding Creutzfeldt-Jakob (Mad Cow) disease
SAINT PAUL, Minn – Following updated guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) announces revised eligibility guidelines for prospective donors. In May of 2022, the FDA updated its guidance regarding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (also known as Mad Cow disease, CJD or vCJD), allowing more people to become eligible to donate blood.
Changes in vCJD criteria now allow the following groups to donate:
• People who spent time in the United Kingdom from 1980-1996
• People who spent time in France and Ireland from 1980-2001, and
• People who received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland from 1980-present
“We are pleased to welcome newly eligible donors in the fight to save lives,” said Kathy Geist, vice president of Memorial Blood Centers. "Blood centers across America have struggled to collect enough blood since the pandemic hit. These new guidelines will help ease the shortage by opening eligibility to many potential donors who have long wanted to help."
After updating computer systems and training protocols, MBC now welcomes donors who were previously deferred due to one of the above criteria. MBC is currently contacting donors with previous vCJD deferrals to inform them of their potential eligibility.
There is no substitute for blood—only eligible donors can help meet the needs of patients in our local hospitals. Giving blood takes less than one hour from start to finish, and a single donation could help up to three patients. Learn more or schedule an appointment to donate at mbc.org or call 888.GIVE.BLD (888.448.3253).
Some eligibility deferrals related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease remain. To determine eligibility, call 888.448.3253 or stop by a donor center or blood drive and speak with our staff.
ABOUT MEMORIAL BLOOD CENTERS
Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) has been saving lives since 1948 as an independent nonprofit. In 2023, MBC is proud to celebrate its 75th anniversary of saving lives through blood donation. MBC relies on the local community to donate blood to help ensure a safe and stable blood supply is available to area hospitals and other partners throughout the country. With operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, MBC is a division of New York Blood Center Enterprises, serving communities across the nation. For more information, call 888-GIVE-BLD (888-448-3253) or visit mbc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER ENTERPRISES/NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER was founded in 1964, New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) is one of the largest nonprofit, independent, community blood centers in the world. Along with partner organizations Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD), Community Blood Center of Kansas City (CBC), Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC), Memorial Blood Centers (MBC), Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB), and Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC), we collect approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day and serve communities approaching 50 million people in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), mid-Atlantic area (PA, DE, MD), Kansas City metropolitan area, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Southern New England. NYBCe delivers lifesaving blood products and services as well as clinical, medical, pharmaceutical, testing, and consultative services to over 600 hospitals and dozens of research organizations, academic institutions, and biomedical companies. Among other milestones, our Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute pioneered the Hepatitis B vaccine and patented a solvent detergent plasma process, innovating blood-purification technology worldwide.
Contact:
Laura Murphy | laura.murphy@innovativeblood.org | 612.986.6009
Amanda Diamond | amanda@risaheller.com | 561.504.6659