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MisPandora -> RE: STDs in older people (6/22/2004 7:54:25 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
An easy solution for this is to donate blood or blood products.
The Red Cross (after being implicated in the transmission of the virus to 1000s of people) tests and retests each and every blood product they receive, and will notify you if you test positive. Additionally, it is done in a way where you dont actually have to ask a person to test you for the disease; it is all done far away and the person testing only knows you as a number.
I'm sure many have already made this point, but your information, while it's right, is a horrible message to put out to the general population. While repeat ELISA tests are done on the blood products, as with any other FDA-regulated human tissue, they are not infalliable tests. That's the MAIN reason why all tissue processors have ABSOLUTE ruleout criteria for anyone considered to be US Public Health Services (USPHS) high risk --Those who are at increased risk for becoming infected with HIV are not eligible to donate blood. According to the Food and Drug Administration, you are at increased risk if:
- you are a male who has had sex with another male since 1977, even once;
- you have ever used a needle, even once, to take drugs or steroids that were not prescribed by a physician;
- you have taken clotting factor concentrates for a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
- you were born in or lived in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria since 1977 (This requirement is related to concerns about HIV Group O.)
- you have taken drugs or money in exchange for sex since 1977;
- you have ever had a positive test for HIV virus;
- you have symptoms of HIV infection including unexplained weight loss, night sweats, blue or purple spots on or under the skin, long-lasting white spots or unusual sores in your mouth, lumps in your neck, armpits, or groin that last more than a month, fever higher than 99 degrees that lasts more than 10 days, diarrhea lasting over a month, or persistent cough and shortness of breath.
Donation is also deferred secondary to use of human-derived growth hormones, exposure to or a positive test (ever, or jaundice) for hepatitis. There is also generally a deferral made for those having close contact with someone who is at an increased risk for HIV infection, or actively infected with HIV or hepatitis. This occurs when paying to have sex, as a result of rape, or when having sex with an IV drug user.
Why would you want to put your loved one's at risk when there are so many other free options available? Most county or local governments offer HIV testing through the health department, as does Planned Parenthood (all over the nation.)
More information can be had on blood and tissue donation and the reasons why donation might be deferred or declined at Red Cross Donor Exclusions, through the FDA Final Rule on human tissue/products, and through a very compelling from Duke School of Law
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