Blood results from American Red Cross

[Mongetron]

I am looking for advice / reassurance.   In January, I donated blood wiht the American Red Cross as I have done in the past 20 years.  On Monday I received a letter stating that I can no longer donate because my hepatitis C inital test came back POSITVE but the RIBA and NAT test came back NEGATIVE.  I was very upset not understanding how I could be positive then negative. Finally an ARC counselor told me that the screening process involved 16 other people and someone(s) came back positive but when screened invidually, it was not mine. Since it wasnt me, I didnt find it fair that I be excluded for life from donating blood. Has anyone heard of this type of screening (where multi blood units are tested together)?  My husband says its for cost reasons since testing is expensive.  However, being that this was totally an unexpected shock, Im questioning everything to understand this mess.  

Also, being that I was in a panic state, I did go to my primary doctor and he took tests for Hepatitis C. Now, Im still a nervous wreck while waiting for the results.  

Any assurance / understanding of this whole ordeal would be a huge help!

Thanks!

[djgal]

This similar situation happened to me with another disease.  I immediately had my blood checked with my doctor and it came out negative. I spoke to the counselor and sent her my test results, then had go to an appointment to have the Red Cross test my blood. Red Cross found that my blood was fine. I  have been waiting 4 months, so far, to get the Ok to donate blood again.  I agree that this is insane. Especially since I always get emails that the Red Cross is in dire need of blood. If I end up in another group where one person tests positive, I will not be able to donate again. I agree that getting the letter puts one into a panic, especially if you do not know the system they use in testing. Again this system is unfair, and in the long run only hurts the Red Cross.

[flyinlynn]

13 year old thread doubtful any of the original people who commented are still around. Many people learned they are infected with hepatitis C when they donated blood.

It is very important to keep the blood supply safe from blood borne illnesses like hepatitis C.

[Bobby1952]

  You need to find out because if you were reported then in the future you will have tbl getting health and life insurance. This is one of the first things that they check, to see if you have any pre-existing conditions. If you do you can and usually are denied.

Bobby

[Myown]

Do yourself a favor and 'do jump' through those hoops, cover EVERY base. You want to make sure you are not stamped with the State HCV tatoo when you don't have HCV. Whenever you receive something in WRITING and then told that it is not correct - You ALWAYS then want to receive that "correction" ALSO in WRITING.


The only way I found out that my STATE was notified was I asked the lady from my local board of health how she was notified and she said the State notifies the Local. The State has never notified me  - just the Board of Health. So evidently some people get letters from the State and some get calls from the Local - but when it comes down to it - we are on the list one way or another.

When you said "Finally" the girl told you how it was done - the screening process,,,,that tells me that if you didn't really push hard enough for answers, you may not have been told.....so keep on pushing;o)

take care,
MO

[Trinity4]

Some states report, others don't.  My state does not.  Have never received a letter from the county, state or CDC so you may want to check into that first before you jump through all those hoops.  I would clear it up with the Red Cross however.

Wish you the best,
Trinity

[Myown]

Since RC said its not you that was positive that is good news and I can totally understand that you're upset about still not being able to donate, but I think what I would be even more upset with would be IF my name was now on "The State List," when it should NOT be.

When I was dx with hepc a letter went to the State and then my local Board of Health was notified and then my local B of H called me to question me and discuss treatment of the disease.

Since Red Cross initially said you had it, I would call them again and ask them how soon the letter goes out to the State.  I am GUESSING, but I have a feeling it goes right out -pronto - those 16 names in that pool, and that 'might be the reason' that though she said you are negative, you still CANNOT donate......In other words, that would involve more paper work of them contacting the State and saying you (and the other 14 people) are neg. And we know how corners get cut everywhere you go today, so more paper work??- thats pulling teeth.

Its probably easier for them to just exclude those 16 people from donating though only one was infected. Nothing makes sense the way things are done today, so you have to try to think of the most stupid way to do something and thats usually where you will find the answer.
But IF this is how they do things and your case is not unusual, its no wonder we go thru blood shortages.

But anyhow, I would, yes, definitely get tested by my own doc again and if neg - no antibodies, I would ask him to send a  letter (and call) to Red Cross and have them send you and the STATE a letter stating that you DO NOT have hep c. I would also tell RED CROSS that the State needs to take you off that list, (if you are on it) and that you ALSO want a letter back from the STATE saying you do not have hepc. I would then go to your local Board of Health and explain what happened and ask if they received any letter from the State and if they did, I would make sure I didn't leave without the letter in my hand - a copy.

The RC probably might tell you they won't do this or whatever, but I would not let them get away with having my name on a State list of having hepc (if that has happened) if I didn't have hcv.  What if it came back positive also for HIV, syphliss etc, and then they said, oh that wasn't you, it was one of the other 15 people,,,,,,would you be listed as having those diseases too?  I would want to know.

It was expressed by some, including myself, that it felt crumby to be put on that State list, but, we DO have/or had hepc......I know how I would feel if I didn't have it and was put on the list just because they are looking to cut corners(?) in their screening process. Or at least it appears that they are looking to cut corners. If I were you I would be curious to see what your doctor thinks about this new screening process from his medical perspective - safety issues etc.

And with ALL that said,,,,,You may NOT be on the STATE list, I am just saying what I would do and what I would check into.

Good luck,
MO

[portann]

Never heard of this but since the representative said you don't have HCV, your exclusion was probably temporary while the final results were pending. Check with her again to see if you're now eligible to donate.

Cost-effectiveness has its benefits and risks. We used to have school inoculation programs and to save money, the same needle was used for everyone.

[JennyPenny]

Don't be nervous. When antibodies for HCV are positive, the NAT test and possibly the RIBA are used to confirm that you are positive. The NAT test actually looks for the virus in the blood, not just the antibodies. Since you have had a negative NAT & RIBA, I wouldn't worry about the tests your doctor has done. I'm sure they will be negative also.

I don't think the original antibody screening is done in a plool. I believe that the antibody test is done on each unit of blood. Perhaps someone who knows for sure will post and explain how this happens.

[nygirl7]

I don't understand what that means "testing them altogether" at all.  But it does sound like they did determine you were clear. I'd follow up with my regular doc for certain just for peace of mind.