Okay, I Need Donors....

[Alex]

Hey there!

I'm posting this to get more donors for a blood drive on April 4, 2008. Did you know that roughly 33% of Americans can donate blood (whether or not they actually choose to), but at least 60% of Americans will need blood at some point in their lives?

So, with that in mind, I'm asking you to check your calendars and give up your lunch break to come donate and get some stellar cookies.

Here's the details:

Friday, April 4, 2008
8am to 2pm
CNM (Main Campus) near Smith-Brasher Hall in the Bloodmobile

[CB]

You also can't donate if you are gay, which is too bad as there would not be such a shortage.

[sophie]

That's pretty outrageous.

[CB]

My son thought so too when he was turned away, especially since he is a very healthy 23 year old.

[JMG]

The unfortunate reason (most unfortunate of all for the gay community) that gay men are not allowed to donate blood is that HIV still impacts gay males than any other population in the US. It's not a bigotry thing; it's a statistics thing. The chances that a gay male was recently infected with HIV - so recently that he would still test negative for the virus - are higher than the chances that someone who is not a gay men (and has none of the other risks) would be recently infected with HIV. This would raise the chance that infected blood could get into the system and not show up on antibody tests. Of course there are many gay men who don't do anything that might put them at risk for HIV. But the system looks at the population risk as a whole; not at possible individual exceptions.

I'm female and had hepatitis A, which totally resolved, over 20 years ago. Hepatitis A is transmitted via food or water; almost never blood. Even I know the hepatitis I had twenty years ago was Hep A - not Hep B or C, which are riskier for blood transmission - and I know it resolved, they don't want to take a chance on somebody who had any kind of viral hepatitis at all.

[CB]

Actually that is a misconception that most people have. The highest at risk for AIDS/HIV in the US is heterosexual African American males. This is why it is so frustrating that so many people believe that. Yes, gay males are still very much at risk but so are other populations. It just feels like discrimination.

You will have to forgive me if I sound somewhat defensive but I have lived with the discrimination and hatred that my son deals with all the time and as a mom it makes it hard. Don't get me wrong, I feel that giving blood is something we should all do and is one of the best and easiest ways to help others.

[JMG]

Men who have sex with men have, by far, the highest rate per population of HIV infection in this country. African American men who are gay (or are not disclosing their sexual orientation or risks) have very high rates too, you're right. I have worked as an HIV/AIDS epidemiologist for many years, so I'm not coming from "misperception." When they collect blood for medical use, they don't take any chances.

[Barelas Babe]

Is parking free or do I need to bring quarters? I'll be home in NM then - YAY!

[Alex]

parking will be free on friday. do you want to make an appointment?

[Alex]

Hey guys,

just a reminder that the blood drive is tomorrow!

stop by, and give blood!

CNM Main Campus
In the Bloodmobile, next to Smith-Brasher Hall on the southwest corner of University & Coal
8a to 2p

[sophie]

I donated up at Intel today and came out just fine! It was actually pretty interesting -- I'd never seen the machine that you can choose to use which cycles the red blood cells (do I have that right?) back into your body. Some triathlete fab X-something guy was hooked up to it while I was there.

I gave the normal way, and can recommend the banana cookies and OJ.

[missy]

do you know when the next collection will be? i am currently finishing up a round of antibiotics for a wicked sinus infection. also, i lived in europe for about a year (cumulatively--over several visits). am i prevented from donating? thanks!

[Andrea Lin]

Yeah, I'd love to but I'm one of those 67%... fuckers blacklisted me for a false test result and I can't contest it. Grrr.... So I can sell my plasma, but I can't donate the good stuff. Frustrating, since I'm a universal donor type.