American Red Cross Blood Services

Donor reviews (4)

Historical community reviews restored from the original BloodBanker directory.

• Leo Rogers2014-09-13
  ★★★★★

  I decided to give blood because I saw that the Red Cross was visiting my campus and my class had been canceled. I wasn't even sure I could give blood, but I went through all the tests and I ended up giving a pint of blood.

• Leigh2011-07-13
  ★★★★★

  To Barb: I have been working as a blood donor tech at a hospital in Baton Rouge, LA for the last 2+ years. I certainly understand your frustration at being deferred from donating blood and would like to shed a little light on the matter for you. during the 80_s and 90_s a strange illness was sweeping through Europe. Nobody knew what it was, how it was transmitted, how to cure it or prevent it. In time, this condition became known as Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or, more familiarly, Mad Cow Disease. People who lived in Europe during the time before testing for this disease existed could potentially have contracted the disease without knowing it. Like a lot of diseases, it is possible to be an active carrier for the disease and be perfectly healthy, never showing any symptoms. At present, the tests that would allow for testing that would identify these pathogens is PROHIBITIVELY expensive and it is not possible to screen every unit at this time. But, thanks to advancements in science and medical research, criteria for blood donation is changing all the time. Deferral periods for people who have had certain cancers used to be 10 years, now it is 5. Don't give up hope. Check back periodically to see if the screening criteria have changed. Perhaps one day you will be able to donate again. From someone who works in the field, thank you for your interest in donating blood. Until you are eligible to donate again, I ask that you encourage those you know to donate in your place.

• Blood Donor Friend2010-12-15
  ★★★★★

  Additional Information for American Red Cross Blood Services in Muskegon, MI. Phone: 1-800-GIVE-LIFE Office: 231-726-3555 Fax: 231-722-4126 800-813-8111 Email: info@arcmon.org Website: www.arcmon.org Hours: Tues 10am-4pm; Thurs 1-7pm Website: www.facebook.com/pages/American-Red-Cross-Serving-Muskegon-Oceana-and-Newaygo/169775991294?ref=ts Donation Types: Whole Blood, Double Red Cell Donation

• barb2009-05-01
  ★★★★★

  I found today that I have been PERMANENTLY banned from donating blood/plasma simply because I was overseas with the military 25 YEARS AGO. I tried to donate in 2003, and told them that I had been in Portugal in 1983-84. They proceded to stamp my folder \_permement deferral\_ in red, so I can't donate. I am now and always have been healthy, so there is absolutely no valid reason why I shouldn't be allowed to donate. I think the whole idea stinks, and I wish there was someone (who could do something) that I could file a complaint with. BTW, I really don't expect a response to this email.

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