Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

having sex with a hep-c person can I still give blood to ARC?

can a person that lives with someone who has hep-c type 1 stage 4 and has sex with this person..Can the person that doesnt have hep-c still give blood to the american red cross?
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1507381 tn?1293423296
Every time I see someone say the blood supply is safe, I want to box up the material that I have that shows that it is not and send it to them to open up there eyes.  I am sorry to say that NC is one of the worst states in the US to get a blood transfusion.  Go the the FDA  website and look at the Enforcement Reports.  There is one for every week of the year.  Just scroll down to Biologics.  It is an eye opener.  The American Red Cross has paid over $30,000,000 in fines for distributing blood that was contaminated and this has been since the tests  for HCV  and HIV.  Your state received 112 units in Jan of 2010 that was contaminated with HIV.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I thank all of you very much .See I was given 2 pints of Blood in 1984 it never showed up until 20 years later in 2004 to the month Now I go to UNC every 6 months for test I now have cirrosite of the liver I know I spelled it wrong you know what I mean Princess 77746 Thanks again
Helpful - 0
206807 tn?1331936184
I don’t know if it was Divine Intervention  or not but I sold Plasma ONCE.  A fight broke out and they got within 10’ of me. Not much you can do to defend yourself with a bag pinned to your arm with what looked like a framing nail. Needless to say, I never went back.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bill, I hear ya on the hindsight thing.

Oddly, I never donated blood and the reason was not because I didn't think it was a necessary thing but because an OB-GYN doc that I had for my first pregnancy in 1979 said something to me that stuck with me through the years.  He told me to never, ever donate blood because "women can't afford the blood loss."  True to my nature, I listened to his advice (even though I felt he was full of crappola about that) and, looking back after my Hep C diagnosis in 2008, I see that his odd advice unknowingly saved a lot of people from potentially being infected with Hep C by me.
Helpful - 0
206807 tn?1331936184
Ditto- Everytime I hear someone suggest Donating Blood for a free screening,I want to jump through the screen and slap the Bejesus out of them.Not only the window period but there is also human error.
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
Yeah, I agree; if the patient answers the screening questions honestly, it'd drastically reduce the odds of bugs getting into the system; if not, sigh....

It's likely I contributed myself; I was probably infected in the early seventies, but donated blood through the mid-eighties unaware of my condition. If we could only  turn back time... :)

--Bill
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bill...the information you posted is exactly why I shiver every time I read where it is suggested that someone who feels they cannot afford a Hep C blood test should consider donating blood to get a "free" Hep C test.  Terrible advice...just terrible.
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
The thought behind this rule is that exposure and subsequent infection might not be caught during the window period between exposure and infection. If a person is recently infected with viral hepatitis, it can take up to several months for antibodies to develop; during this time, the person could be infected, but tests might not show it yet.

--Bill
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank-you for your answer  Princess77746
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
This is from the American Red Cross:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic

“Hepatitis Exposure
If you live with or have had sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis, you must wait 12 months after the last contact.
Persons who have been detained or incarcerated in a facility (juvenile detention, lockup, jail, or prison) for more than 72 consecutive hours (3 days) are deferred for 12 months from the date of last occurrence. This includes work release programs and weekend incarceration. These persons are at higher risk for exposure to infectious diseases.”

You should call your blood bank and verify details with them though—

--Bill
.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.