vCJD Deferral (Mad Cow)

Issue
In October 2001, the American Red Cross implemented a donor deferral for Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or "mad cow" disease. This defers people from donating blood if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more from 1980 – 1996 in the United Kingdom; or spent a cumulative total of five years or more since 1980 in any European country; or received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980.

Facts
Safety is the number one priority of the Red Cross. The "mad cow" deferral is intended to protect blood transfusion recipients. Currently no blood tests exist to test for the disease.

The "mad cow" deferral may be a temporary measure. When more information or an FDA-approved blood test is available the Red Cross will investigate possibly eliminating this geographic exclusion.

Back to Issues Inventory