blood donations

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Red Cross Announces Emergency Blood Shortage, With a 'Super' Appeal

US humanitarian group is giving donors a chance to win Super Bowl trip if they roll up their sleeves

(Newser) - An emergency blood shortage has prompted the American Red Cross to make an appeal to all eligible donors: Please come in, roll up your sleeves, and give a little. On Sunday, the humanitarian aid group announced it's seeing the lowest number of US blood donors in two decades, and...

America's Blood Supply Is at 'Critically Low Levels'

Red Cross blames 'back-to-back months of worsening climate-related disasters'

(Newser) - The American Red Cross has announced a national blood shortage, warning that the US blood supply is at "critically low levels." The Red Cross said the national blood supply is down almost 25% from early last month, partly due to "back-to-back months of worsening climate-related disasters" that...

FDA Has a New Rule for Gay, Bisexual Blood Donors

Gay, bisexual men in monogamous relationships can now donate without abstaining from sex

(Newser) - Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can give blood in the US without abstaining from sex under updated federal health guidelines that focus on donors' behavior, not their sexual orientation. The Food and Drug Administration guidelines finalized Thursday ease decades-old restrictions designed to protect the blood supply from HIV....

FDA to Make Big Move on Blood Donation Rules

No more automatic 3-month waiting for gay, bi men, per proposal

(Newser) - A big change looks to be coming to the Food & Drug Administration's long-criticized guidelines for blood donors as it relates to the LGBTQ community. Bloomberg reports that the agency is seeking to ease its restrictions on gay and bisexual men, who, under the current policy, have had to...

US Facing 'National Crisis' on Blood Supply

Red Cross is warning of 'severe blood shortage' around the nation

(Newser) - "Every two seconds, someone in the US needs blood," per the American Red Cross. Now, however, "crucial patient care" is getting pushed off thanks to what the group says is a "severe blood shortage" nationwide, per the New York Times . In a release issued June 14,...

Blood Donation Rules Changed—Likely for Good

New policy for gay men expected to stay in place

(Newser) - The US government Thursday eased restrictions on blood donations from gay men and other key groups because of a drop in the nation's blood supply triggered by the coronavirus outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration's new policy aims to allow tens of thousands more Americans to give blood,...

FDA Wants All US Blood Donations Screened for Zika

One unit of donated blood in Florida has tested positive

(Newser) - The FDA is getting even more serious about stopping the spread of Zika, recommending Friday that all blood donations in the US be screened for the virus, USA Today reports. Previously, it had recommended screening donations only in areas where Zika was spreading—mostly Florida and Puerto Rico. According to...

Fla. Shooter May Have Donated Blood to His Own Victims

Omar Mateen had donated blood 2 weeks prior to shooting

(Newser) - On May 29, Omar Mateen donated blood at a OneBlood mobile blood drive. Two weeks later, he opened fire at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, killing dozens and injuring dozens more—and OneBlood provided much of the blood supply used to help the victims, ABC News reports. The donation center confirmed...

It's Outrageous That Gay Men Can't Donate Blood
It's Outrageous That Gay Men Can't Donate Blood
OPINION
Jun 13, 2016 12:03 PM CDT

It's Outrageous That Gay Men Can't Donate Blood

Nightclub massacre casts spotlight on FDA rules

(Newser) - In the wake of the Pulse Orlando massacre, many in the LGBT community want to do something to help victims and to remember the dozens of lives lost at the LGBT nightclub—but for many of those looking to help, donating blood is not an option. Though the FDA recently...

FDA Lifts Ban on Gay Blood Donors
FDA Lifts Ban on
Gay Blood Donors
Dec 21, 2015 4:10 PM CST

FDA Lifts Ban on Gay Blood Donors

But new policy does come with restrictions

(Newser) - The nation's three-decade-old ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men was formally lifted Monday, but major restrictions will continue to limit who can donate. The Food and Drug Administration says it is replacing the lifetime ban with a new policy barring donations from men who have had...

The Solution to Our Blood Shortage: the Dead
The Solution to Our Blood Shortage: the Dead
OPINION
Jul 23, 2015 5:56 PM CDT

The Solution to Our Blood Shortage: the Dead

It sounds macabre, but it could work, argues columnist

(Newser) - You may have heard a plea from your local Red Cross to donate blood recently, given the usual shortages of summer. At Real Clear Science , Ross Pomeroy suggests a permanent solution to the problem: "Drain blood from the dead." It sounds macabre, but it's actually quite safe,...

Want Free Music? Give Blood—in Transylvania

Romania tries unconventional way to draw blood from stony population

(Newser) - Romania is tapping into the Dracula legend, offering concert-goers free tickets in exchange for their blood. The campaign is part of a push to increase blood donations in a country where only 1.7% of the people donate blood. Adrian Chereji, marketing director for the UNTOLD Festival, said today the...

Critics: Glaring Problem With FDA's Blood Donation Plan

Those in relationships could still be unable to donate

(Newser) - In December, the FDA revealed it would be ending a lifetime ban on gay men who seek to donate blood, and today, the agency has released its proposal . The FDA will unveil its final guidance after 60 days of public comment, the Huffington Post reports. While gay rights advocates say...

After Blood Transfusion, Boy Allergic to Peanuts

And fish, in 'extremely rare' case

(Newser) - An 8-year-old boy in Canada never had any problems eating salmon or peanuts. Then, within just a few weeks of getting a blood transfusion as part of his treatment for brain cancer, he ate salmon and experienced a severe allergic reaction within 10 minutes. The same thing happened when he...

FDA Lifting Lifetime Ban on Gay Men Donating Blood

But there will still be restrictions

(Newser) - The FDA announced today that it will lift its lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, the Los Angeles Times reports. Instead, men who have had sex with men will be allowed to donate blood one year after last having sexual contact with another man, the FDA...

That Blood You Donated Is Being Sold

Lawsuit sheds light on lucrative business

(Newser) - To a patient in need, donated blood is priceless—but to nonprofit blood centers, the precious bodily fluid is worth between $180 and $300 a pint. So says Ben Bowman, CEO of "blood broker" General Blood, which is currently in the midst of a legal struggle with one such...

16 Stories