Donor QualificationThe qualification criteria are reviewed and assessed on a regular basis. They are, therefore, subject to change. Here are several of the qualification criteria. This list is not exhaustive. YES only if done with single use or personal use needles. Otherwise, you must wait 6 months. YES if you are 18 years old or older. New donors 61 and older have to provide a letter from their physician certifying that they are in good health and can give blood. Donors between the ages of 67 and 70, inclusively, who have not given blood in the last two years, have to provide a letter from their physician certifying that they are in good health and can give blood. Donors 71 and older have to provide each year a letter from their physician, certifying that they are in good health and can give blood. YES if you feel well, even if you were given an allergy injection. YES if done over 6 months ago. YES if it is a skin cancer (basal or squamous cell carcinoma) or a uterine cervical cancer in situ, as long as it has been successfully treated. NO for any other type of cancer. New selection criterion concerning Chagas diseaseThe following questions were added to the record of donation on March 29, 2009: - Were you born outside of Canada?
- Was your mother or maternal grandmother born outside of Canada?
- Have you traveled to or resided in Latin America (including Mexico) for 30 consecutive days or more? (see list of countries)
The blood of donors who, according to their answers, present a risk for Chagas disease will undergo laboratory testing to screen for this infection. | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
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WHAT IS CHAGAS DISEASE?
Chagas disease is an infectious illness rife in Central and South America. It is caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of an hematophagous insect (feeds on blood) called Triatoma infestans. Endemic areas for this infection extend from Mexico to the south of Argentina (excluding the Caribbean islands). The parasite is found mainly in rural areas, especially in populations living in primitive dwellings (especially those made of adobe, which consists of a mixture of straw and mud). | HOW IS CHAGAS DISEASE CONTRACTED?
It is transmitted mainly by a bite from Triatoma infestans (insect). The parasite can also be transmitted by blood transfusion, organ transplant, and in the case of pregnant women, from mother to child via the placenta. A person carrying this disease will be contagious for life. | WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHAGAS DISEASE?
The first symptoms, flu-like (fever, swelling of the lymph glands, etc.), generally appear within thirty days. After this 4-6 week phase, the infection becomes asymptomatic, i.e. the person has no specific symptoms. A mortality rate of 1% in the acute phase has been reported. However, the infected person will remain chronically infected if not treated. Moreover, in the succeeding decades, 10-30% of infected persons will develop severe complications, mainly cardiac and gastrointestinal. | IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR THE DISEASE?
Yes. People infected with the disease can be treated with an antiparisitic, for which they will need to be hospitalized. Treatment to relieve the symptoms is also available.
| HOW CAN CHAGAS DISEASE BE PREVENTED?
There is no vaccination or preventive treatment against the disease. Apart from eradication of the vector insects (use of insecticides and improved living conditions), the main means of prevention is the use of a mosquito net over the bed.
| WHAT MEASURES HAS HÉMA-QUÉBEC INSTITUTED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE BLOOD SUPPLY FOR QUEBECERS?
Following the introduction of this new selection criterion, ALL blood donors must answer the following questions added to the record of donation:
- Were you born outside of Canada?
- Was your mother or maternal grandmother born outside of Canada?
- Have you travelled to or resided in Latin America (including Mexico) for 30 consecutive days or more? (see list of countries)
On a first donation, if a blood donor answers yes to any one of these three questions, a sample of the donor’s blood will be sent to the laboratory to be screened for Chagas disease. For subsequent donations, a positive answer to the third question will automatically lead to a laboratory screening test on the donated blood. If the result is negative, the blood donation can be used for transfusion and the person can continue to donate blood. If the result is positive, the donation will be destroyed, the sample will undergo further tests to confirm the infection, and the donor will be informed and referred to a medical resource for clinical follow-up. | WHAT ABOUT STEM CELL AND HUMAN TISSUE DONATIONS?
This criterion also applies to donors on the Stem Cell Donor Registry and to human tissue donations. As for cord blood donations, a sample of each donation will be systematically sent to the laboratory for screening. | WILL MANY DONORS BE AFFECTED BY THIS NEW MEASURE?
According to a survey conducted by Héma-Québec, few donors or donor’s mother or maternal grandmother come from the endemic countries. They represent 0.6% of donors. It is also estimated that 2.8% of donors have visited endemic areas for periods of longer than one month.
For any question you can call at 1-800-847-2525 or write us at info@hema-quebec.qc.ca
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YES if birth occurred 6 months ago or more. YES if you feel well and do not have any fever. Donors are excluded on a permanent basis for the following reasons: - People who have spent three months or more in the United Kingdom between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1996 inclusively.* UK includes: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
- People who have spent three months or more in France between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1996 inclusively.
- People who have spent five years or more in Western Europe since January 1, 1980. Western Europe includes: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Note that the time spent in the United Kingdom and France since January 1, 1997 must not be included in the cumulative period.
- People who have spent six months or more in Saudi Arabia between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1996 inclusively.
- People having received a blood transfusion (blood, red cells, platelets or plasma) in the Western Europe since January 1, 1980.
For more information on variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). YES if whitening or impression. YES the day after a filling (restoration), cleaning or orthodontics. YES 3 days after an extraction, surgery, root canal, crown, root planing, gum graft or implant. YES if treated by oral medication. NO if treated with insulin injections. You cannot give blood if injected intravenously, even once. Other drugs: see Héma-Québec's staff. In most cases, taking medication does not prevent people from giving blood. Rather, it is the condition being treated with the medication that prohibits blood donation. There are, however, certain medications that can pose a risk to blood donors and/or recipients. If you are taking any of the following medications, you cannot give blood.
You must be able to provide the medications’ names at a blood drive and the reason why you take it. NO until symptoms disappear and the end of antibiotics (if prescribed). New selection criterion to prevent TRALISince October 20, 2008, question 4. b in the Record of donation has been changed to: “Have you ever been pregnant, including miscarriages, abortions, or ectopic pregnancies?” For female platelet and plasma apheresis donors, this question began being asked as of March 31, 2008. | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
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What is TRALI (Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury)? TRALI is an infrequent pulmonary complication occurring within 6 hours of a transfusion. Breathing difficulty is the main symptom and, depending on the severity, it can cause the patient’s death. | What causes TRALI?This complication occurs in certain patients as a result of the transfusion of blood components containing antibodies, which can cause TRALI. These antibodies are mostly found in plasma and platelets. | What is the source of the antibodies that cause TRALI?Studies have established that women with a history of pregnancy are likely to develop these antibodies, whether the pregnancy was carried to term or was terminated due to miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy. | Is the health of donors involved in TRALI compromised?No. The antibodies associated with TRALI pose no threat to donors. | Are men concerned by these new measures to prevent TRALI?No. Men, like women with no history of pregnancy, have few antibodies associated with TRALI. Accordingly, no particular measure will be applied to male donors. | Is there some kind of screening test for donors to reduce the risk of TRALI?There is no screening test available at Héma-Québec at the present time. |
| PLASMA BY APHERESIS |
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Can female plasma apheresis donors with a history of pregnancy continue to make donations?Yes. From now on, plasma collected by apheresis from women with a history of pregnancy will be used to produce drug products such as albumin and immunoglobulins that will be used, in particular, to treat serious burn victims and premature babies or to treat people who cannot fight infections due to an immune deficiency.
Women with no history of pregnancy can continue to give plasma by apheresis. In such cases, the plasma will be used for transfusions in patients who need it. | Why can the plasma processed into drug products such as albumin and immunoglobulin be used without risk, unlike plasma given to a patient?The plasma processed into drug products forms part of a pool obtained from many thousands of plasma donors. This dilution effect reduces the risk of transmitting the antibodies associated with TRALI. |
| PLATELETS BY APHERESIS |
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Can female platelet apheresis donors with a history of pregnancy continue to make donations?No. Women with a history of pregnancy will no longer be able to donate platelets by apheresis. However, they can continue to help save lives by donating whole blood. Donors in the Québec City region can donate plasma by apheresis at the Centre Globule Laurier Québec.
Women with no history of pregnancy can continue to donate platelets by apheresis.
| Can female HLA-compatible and HPA-typed platelet donors with a history of pregnancy still give platelets by apheresis?Yes. Female HLA-compatible and HPA-typed platelet donors may be asked to give platelets by apheresis. Indeed, given the scarcity and particular nature of this type of donation, platelet compatibility takes priority to save the life of a patient. |
| WHOLE BLOOD |
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What about whole blood donations?A whole blood donation provides several blood products. Its processing results in three main components: plasma, platelets and packed red blood cells.
Women can continue to give whole blood whether or not they have already been pregnant. Packed red blood cells from all donors, male or female, continue to be used for blood transfusions. Platelets from whole blood donations from women without a history of pregnancy and from men are used for transfusions. Finally, only plasma from male donors is used for transfusions. All plasma from women goes towards the production of medicine such as albumin and immunoglobins, which is used, among other things, to treat serious burn victims and premature babies or to treat people who cannot fight infections due to an immune deficiency. For any question you can call at 1-800-847-2525 or write us at info@hema-quebec.qc.ca |
YES influenza (or flu) : 2 days after the vaccination. Other vaccines : consult Héma-Québec staff. YES if you weigh at least 50 kg (110 pounds). For more information please contact our Donor Services at 1-800-847-2525. |
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