Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Blood donation

I'm newly diagnosed so I've got a lot of questions. I belong to a Facebook group for women with AS. I asked on there about donations and got a dozen different opinions. When I spoke to Canadian Blood Services they said that I am able to donate with AS as long as I'm feeling well. Some medications would not be allowed, but for now I'm only on Vimovo. So I'm good to go. Why is there no clear cut answer? The women on my other group were saying yes and no. As if this disease isn't overwhelming enough without all the uncertainty!

The blood service will have protocols for what it will accept and what they will turn down. If they say you can donate, then I'd accept that as a clear cut answer. People who don't work at the blood service won't be likely to know what the current protocols are, so I wouldn't take too much notice of what your group were saying. Just make sure you tell the blood service all the meds you are on if you do decide to donate.

I would be glad to donate, but they won't take mine here in Oklahoma.
J.R.

I have had a definitive answer here in Australia (Official letter in the mail)
Saying they will not accept my donation.

But i guess it could be different in different locations.

This topic has come up before, I tried to search on it, but must be so old it is no longer in the history.

I think you would need to discuss before giving... as I recall many locations will not accept, many instances may be from medications being taken.

Tim

I have donated blood for years and never have even been asked about my AS. I disclose it on the questionnaire you have to fill out but its never stopped me from donating. I also donate platelets.

Yea, Dave!! I haven't met too many people who specifically donate platelets!!! Bravo for your effort. I did for a long time, but my meds prevent it now. The meds, not the PsA.

Canada Blood Services must have rethought. I was a ten-time donor and have O neg. blood-type, but after my diagnosis in 2001, they told me I was not allowed to donate because nobody knows how AS is passed.

I'm glad to hear that, at least where you are, they determine it by what med you're on.

Warm Hugs,

British services advise against donating blood in chronic autoimmune conditions like AS. Giving blood is a great thing to do but we don't know how our antibodies would react in a new body; theoretically they could cause AS symptoms in the patient. Maybe best to give it a miss unless you have a rare blood type, are a universal donor (O negative blood type) or their is a national shortage of your blood type.

Lot of paperwork never gets looked at... I would discuss it with someone personally prior to donating.

When I lived in Neenah, Wisconsin and our company had a blood drive, I asked if I could donate and informed them of medications I was taking and that I had AS. They told me at the blood drive (circa 1998) I could NOT donate.

Tim