Blood transfusions and ME/CFS
I have/had ME/CFS. Can I donate blood?
NO. Scientists have identified a possible link between ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and a virus called XMRV. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is taking the precautionary measure of deferring donors who have ever had ME/CFS from donating blood. This precaution has been taken to protect blood recipients until more is known about XMRV. The new policy will be reviewed within 2 years when further data will become available regarding the possible links between XMRV and ME/CFS.
For more information about XMRV, please click here.
The Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and British governments have all banned ME/CFS patients from donating blood. If you currently have, or have ever had, ME/CFS you are not able to donate blood in Australia.
ME/CFS patients should be banned from donating blood for two reasons:
The first is to protect the patients: ME/CFS causes a large range of symptoms which could be made worse by donating blood. The second reason is to ensure the safety of the blood supply. The causes of ME/CFS are not fully understood, but it has recently been connected to a new retrovirus: XMRV.
A study from the Whittemore Peterson Institute detected the XMRV retrovirus in over 95% of the more than 200 ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia and atypical MS patients tested.
XMRV closely resembles the HIV virus and is thought to be transmitted in similar ways - through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk.
Until the connection between XMRV and ME/CFS is fully understood, it is advisable to prohibit blood donations from these patients.
It is important to act now as tainted blood may already be spreading ME/CFS in the population.
For documented cases of onset occurring directly after blood transfusions, click here.
For information related to specific countries, see:
- Australia: Australian Red Cross; The Australian Newspaper; MedIndia.
- New Zealand
- Canada
- United Kingdom
Original source: ESME
Recent articles on ME/CFS, blood donation and XMRV
The ME Association (2010) 'People with ME/CFS to be permanently excluded from giving blood in the UK from 1 November this year - Department of Health announcement', 27th August 2010.
The Department of Health has decided to ban blood donation permanently from all prospective donors in the UK who report they have had ME/CFS from 1 November this year. The decision was announced in an email sent to The ME Association today by the Department's Director of Health Protection.
Rose, Danny 'CFS 'link' prompts blood donation review', The Age, 20th April 2010.
Australia's Red Cross Blood Service is reviewing its donation guidelines after Canada halted donations from people who have had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
International Articles
Stuff.Co.NZ: Chronic fatigue donors face rejection, April 21st 2010.
BMJ: Canada bans blood donations from people with history of chronic fatigue syndrome, 9th April 2010.
National Post: Canada to ban chronic-fatigue blood, April 8th 2010.
The Gazette: Canada bans blood donation from people with chronic fatigue, April 7th 2010.
Toronto Sun: Chronic fatigue suffers can't give blood, April 7th 2010.
