You can't donate blood if you were born in Germany (or lived there) primarily due to past concerns about Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), also known as "mad cow disease," and potential exposure to diseases like malaria, though regulations have eased, so it's crucial to check with your local blood service (like Australian Red Cross Lifeblood or Red Cross Blood Donation) for specific, up-to-date criteria based on your birth/residency dates and travel history. Many restrictions for Europe have been lifted, but specific deferrals for travel to certain areas or certain medical histories still apply.
Individuals Who Lived and Worked in Parts of Europe Now Eligible to Donate Blood. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its blood donation guidelines to remove a former ban related to concern about variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) transmission.
In Australia, you generally cannot donate blood if you're unwell (cold, flu), have certain infections (like HIV, Hepatitis), have had recent tattoos/piercings (wait times apply), have recently travelled to high-risk areas, use certain medications (like anti-clotting drugs), have had specific medical treatments (like melanoma treatment), or have had recent sex with new partners or male partners in certain situations. Age limits also apply (18-60 for new donors, up to 75 for first-timers).
These rules were related to the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD, the human form of the bovine condition sometimes known as 'mad cow disease'). Read more about the UK donation rule change.
You cannot donate blood if you're feeling sick (cold, flu, infection), have certain chronic illnesses (like some heart conditions, cancers, HIV, Hepatitis B/C), have recently traveled to certain areas (malaria risk), had specific medical procedures or transfusions since 1980, use injectable drugs, or have certain high-risk sexual behaviors, but eligibility varies, so always check with your local blood bank for specifics on medications, tattoos, and travel history.
If you were once deferred from donating blood for geographic risk factors related to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly known as “Mad Cow” disease, we are excited to share that you are now ELIGIBLE to be a blood donor.
The man who saved 2.4 million babies with his blood is James Harrison, an Australian known as the "Man with the Golden Arm," who donated plasma for over 60 years, providing a rare antibody (Anti-D) that prevents RhD-related miscarriage in mothers, saving millions of unborn children. Harrison's rare blood, a result of his own childhood transfusions, contained Anti-D, crucial for making Anti-D immunoglobulin (Anti-D) medication, which acts like an "invisibility cloak" for babies in the womb, preventing their mothers' immune systems from attacking them. He retired in 2018 at age 81, having made over 1,100 donations, leaving a legacy of countless families, including his own grandchildren, who exist because of his selfless giving.
The age limit on blood donations was raised from 65 to 70 in 1998. An age limit was put in place as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the donor, but recent evidence from other blood services has shown no harm to donors over the age of 70.
The rarest blood type in Australia, and globally, is Rh-null (Golden Blood), which lacks all Rh antigens and was first discovered in an Aboriginal Australian woman; among common types, AB-negative (AB-) is the rarest, found in about 1% of the population, though specific rare bloods linked to certain ancestries (like Polynesian or Indian) are also exceptionally scarce.
The most needed blood types are O positive (O+) due to its high demand for the most common positive blood type, and O negative (O-) because it's the universal donor for emergencies when a patient's type is unknown, making both vital but often in short supply. Hospitals constantly need all blood types, but O+ is given most often, while O- is critical for trauma and newborns, notes 2, 3, 5, 7 American Red Cross and 1, 3 Australian Red Cross.
Group AB can donate to other AB's but can receive from all others. Group B can donate red blood cells to B's and AB's. Group A can donate red blood cells to A's and AB's. Group O can donate red blood cells to anybody.
Blood donation in Germany and Austria
Blood donations in Germany and Austria are voluntary. There is no fixed payment for a donation, but small gifts or food boxes are often offered. Both countries have strict guidelines to ensure the safety of donors and the quality of the blood.
Earn* up to $260 in eGift Card Rewards After Your First Platelet Donation! At each donation, you'll get a $20 eGift Card and a OneBlood gift. After your first platelet donation, your 21-day challenge begins. Once you become eligible, you have 21 days to donate to earn Bonus Bucks.
NOTE: FDA blood donor criteria have recently changed. Many persons who were previously unable to donate blood because they lived in the United Kingdom or in European countries are NOW ELIGIBLE to donate blood.
The term "Golden Blood" refers to the Rh-null blood type, It's called "golden" because of its extreme rarity and high medical value. Only about 50 people worldwide are known to have this blood type. It is considered a universal donor for individuals with rare Rh blood types, making it lifesaving in emergencies.
Ronaldo regularly donates blood and has been involved in numerous campaigns to encourage others to do the same. Ronaldo also donates bone marrow after a former team-mate revealed his struggles. Carlos Martins had a son who needed bone marrow and Ronaldo has been a donor since. .
Yes, you can donate blood if you have tattoos
The same rules also apply to ear and body piercings.
The Bottom Line: Don't Let Misinformation Stop You
Clearly, the idea that "females can't donate platelets" is a myth based on a partial truth. In reality, many women, especially those who have never been pregnant, donate platelets regularly.
Under the new guidelines, persons who had been ineligible because they resided for 6 months or more on U.S. military bases in Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands between 1980 and 1990 or on bases in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Italy between 1980 and 1996 may now be eligible.
The risk of spreading variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) by blood transfusion may be higher than previously thought, although risk remains low – there have been only four cases transmitted by blood transfusion in the UK ever, – a study led by the Roslin Institute has shown.
While the Bible doesn't mention Jesus's blood type, scientific analysis of relics linked to him, like the Shroud of Turin and Eucharistic miracle samples, consistently shows Type AB blood, a rare type, leading some to believe it's a miraculous sign, though skeptics point to potential bacterial contamination.
People with type A blood will react against type B or type AB blood. People with type B blood will react against type A or type AB blood. People with type O blood will react against type A, type B, or type AB blood. People with type AB blood will not react against type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood.
Ichor originates in Greek mythology, where it is the "ethereal fluid" that is the blood of the Greek gods, sometimes said to retain the qualities of the immortals' food and drink, ambrosia and nectar. Ichor is described as toxic to humans, killing them instantly if they came in contact with it.