I have Neuro Lyme. My husband regularly donates blood. He was wondering if transfusions can transmit Lyme. Remember when HIV was passed on in blood products by unsuspecting victims? Do they test donated blood for Lyme? Has anybody thought of this before?
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
This may answer your question -- this was quite an alarming validation of at least one TBD being transmitted. How sad.
Yes, I think lyme can be passed through blood donations. I don't have citations to back that up so I just have to say I "think" so. I'm sure with some searching, you will find researchers addressing this question. But, given the nature, the life-span and various forms of the spirochete, it seems certain.
No, they do not test for it. The U.S. governmental agencies still have no clue to the danger from lyme.
Here, many of us have thought of that and know that we are not to be blood or organ donors but, mostly, due to the Babesia issue. Once a person has babesia they are rejected for life from donating blood (and, of course, from donating organs, too).
My mother contracted HIV from a transfusion in the early '80's. She was one of the first to die, having finally only been diagnosed one week before her death because no body ever thought to test her.
One of my concerns about not just lyme but also many other chronic stealth infections is for patients who are organ recipients and are on drugs to blunt the immune response.
Until our country - and the world - takes a long hard look at chronic stealth infections (and not just those from ticks), those who receive blood and organs are at a much greater risk.
Personally, I just don't think the leaders of our country or the world are up to the task. I think there are too many cowards and too many who want to ignore this, taking the easy way out or figuring on the survival of the fittest, thinking they and their families will be above it all.
Add to that the abusive stance of the IDSA and the CDC toward patients with chronic infections and I just don't see this as something that has a chance of attaining priority status. And, as long as the media continues to be undereducated and rely on the IDSA mouthpieces, people are at risk.
My hope is that there are scientists with the Red Cross or elsewhere who might be working a good way to solve this without having to test the blood with tests that are less than perfect.
Something like UV irradiation of all blood donations might be something to consider but I've not really looked into that. I just hope that someone is considering some safe way to treat all donations.
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Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
Yes, it can.
There are many very good threads covering this topic. Pretty scary topic, when you think of all the undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, untreated, and undertreated out there.
And of course there is currently no cure for Lyme and no way to prove there is no live organism still in the body somewhere, so a Lyme patient should never donate blood or organs.
One from Melanie Reber with references/citations throughout:
Thinking of being a Blood or Organ Donor... THINK again...
I can't go through all of them but these are two good places to start. You might want to try the search link up at top and search for blood donations in Medical forum.
Posted by AmyPW8 (Member # 11504) on :
From what we know about any bacterial infection, I would say absolutely. Even though the Lyme bacteria is hard to detect in blood tests, it still can be in the blood.
I read an article in my LLMD's office that Lymies should never donate blood. But I know of some that have...not knowing they had it or that were "cured".
Posted by AmyPW8 (Member # 11504) on :
From what we know about any bacterial infection, I would say absolutely. Even though the Lyme bacteria is hard to detect in blood tests, it still can be in the blood.
I read an article in my LLMD's office that Lymies should never donate blood. But I know of some that have...not knowing they had it or had been told that they were "cured".
Posted by tcw (Member # 15698) on :
I think it is almost certain that Lyme can be transmitted by blood, but how often it could happen is a big question. Bb is not usually found in large concentration in the blood, so it is hard to say if enough bacteria is likely to be tranferred to take hold in another person. I do not want to discourage anybody from donating blood, but the risk of transfer is just not well known at this point.
Babesia is a large risk since it reproduces inside red blood cells. Bartonella is also a risk I think since it is more often found in blood.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Yes, Yes, Yes!
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
Lyme disease "would permanently disqualify an individual as a... blood donor"
in PJ LANGHOFF'S 2ND BOOK, IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD, she has 1 patient stating that is how she got lyme thru blood TRANSFUSION IN HOSPITAL.
Posted by NMN (Member # 11007) on :
Yes. My first LLMD in the UK Dr Owen had written and tried to put pressure on the blood transfusion board in the UK but to no avail.
Legally we are still able to give blood which is crazy. In Ireland they are even more clueless about TBI's so I assume the same applies here.
I will never donate blood.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Organ donation is also a no-no for us with Lyme.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by bwillis (Member # 18811) on :
I think one way the HIV/Aids community got the world to pay attention to the disease was to donate blood in order to get the disease into a population of people who weren't so behaviorally separated from mainstream America at the time.
That may debated but it is true. It wasn't seen early on as the disease it is now. Sound familiar?
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Not only Lyme can be passed through transfustions.
Co-infections can as well.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by cactus: Not only Lyme can be passed through transfustions.
Co-infections can as well. [/QB]
yep!
Posted by DaveNJ (Member # 17362) on :
are we saying not ever again? just curious...my license says i'm an organ donor as well.
Dave
ps...this would be a shame. not that i want to get anyone sick.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by DaveNJ: [QB] are we saying not ever again? just curious...my license says i'm an organ donor as well.
YES!! Especially babesia.. similar to malaria.
Change your driver's license. I had to change mine.... hate it.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
It's rare but it HAS happened. (Documented multiple times) That's why the Red Cross has a section of the questionaire that asks whether you've been diagnosed with an active Lyme infection in the last X years. Active BB 'ketes can survive for days to weeks in refrigeration. Your husband should have his blood carefully screened if he intends to donate further, & skip the blood draws if he comes up + for Any TBDs.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
dave,
our iowa driver's license folks said to just put a address label in that area and show NO TO ORGAN DONATION! that will be sufficient.
i was also on organ donor list, and called those folks taking myself off of it!
Posted by xoxoxox (Member # 18778) on :
After donating blood once the Red Cross sent me a letter stating that my blood tested positive in their first HIV test and indeterminate in the second one so I should see my doctor. Of course, that completely freaked me out!
So my doctor's office performed an HIV test that thankfully, came out negative. The nurse practioner told me that autoimmune disorders can cause false positives.
The letter from the Red Cross also said that I would no longer be able to donate blood or my organs, ever. That really bummed me out.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I had hepatitis A when I was 17.
I was told then I could never donate blood or any organs.
My biggest concern would be that one of my children would
Need a kidney and I couldn't be considered a donor.
I've known I couldn't contribute blood or organs for a long, long time.
While disappointing, better safe than sorry for any
Potential recipients of blood and/or organs.
Makes you wonder though....how safe is our blood supply?
How many diagnosed with something else have donated.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by DaveNJ (Member # 17362) on :
thought you guys would find this interesting. with this thread out here it reminded me that i gave blood before being diagnosed. So i called the blood center today to make thme aware. That aside (that dept. is only in Mon-Fri) i asked the gal about their position and she told me that if you are symptom free 6 months after treatement you can give blood...
Just some more fodder...thoughts?
Dave
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
In Louisiana, the blood bank states symptom free
For 7 years for Lyme for donation.
You can never donate if you have been diagnosed with babesia in Louisiana.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
This is a very sad and informative thread for so many reasons. Can someone send this link to friends or contacts at the Red Cross?!
Dave, I think your comment is accounted for in Keebler's post (which I agree with):
"..symptom free 6 months after treatement you can give blood..."
What I mean is, this: the people that are in charge of screening the blood supply are way, way over their heads in terms of technical, resource and funding challenges.
If this "symptom-free thing" is the blood authorities way of determining risk, we really are screwed. The first step is to define the "problem," and we are still years away from that I fear.
For what its worth, we may be doing a better job of screening our supply than other countries, but I really don't know -- especially after reading about these recent problems in other countries! _______________
UK could import more blood to counter BSE risk from transfusions
Infected blood tragedies (UK) Feb 24 2009 by Tomos Livingstone, Western Mail
FAILURES at the heart of Government led to thousands of patients being infected with HIV and Hepatitis C from tainted blood, an independent inquiry concluded yesterday. The Archer inquiry described the scandal as an ``horrific human tragedy'', and said public health authorities had been ``lethargic'' in the 1970s and 1980s.
It is estimated 4,670 haemophiliacs - who need regular blood transfusions - became infected with hepatitis C, and 1,243 contracted HIV. Some 1,800 are thought to have died.
I doubt they test blood donations for Lyme and/or babesia.
The antibody test isn't that reliable for us...
Scary thought.
So, they rely on our honesty and knowing that we have Lyme.
Sigh. Wonder how many people are infected this way.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Kerryblue (Member # 4077) on :
Was told long time ago by rheume,& pain clinic/ NO, NO, we had many ask felt was No. Amazing when went to so many Lymies,Fmers,ME RA.ALS+++whatever you called would even look at me mostly for meds need.
Ironically all these docs that DID NOT BELIEVE ALL MY ILLNESSES... Ha ASKED WOUNLD NOT WANT MY BLOOD. HA,HA. YET LEFT HURT MANY A TIME!!!! DO NOT BELIEVE
YET. WOULD NOT TAKE MY BLOOD. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM IS THANT NOT IN CONFLICT/DUH TO ALL IN NEED,KAREN
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
american red cross goes by what the US DEPT. OF DEFENSE REQUIRES... which has been posted above.
blood centers test for malaria; but not lyme, and co-infections; i went thru this 2 yrs. ago giving myself 2 pints of blood for my hip replacement surgery.
Posted by AmandaM (Member # 17466) on :
Oh my goodness! I didn't even think about the whole Organ Donor thing!
Wow. Just wow!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by AmandaM: Oh my goodness! I didn't even think about the whole Organ Donor thing!
Wow. Just wow!
Up for those who missed this!
Posted by Gerifrog (Member # 17990) on :
'Kete-tracker posted 14 March, 2009 01:15 AM "It's rare but it HAS happened. (Documented multiple times) That's why the Red Cross has a section of the questionaire that asks whether you've been diagnosed with an active Lyme infection in the last X years. Active BB 'ketes can survive for days to weeks in refrigeration. Your husband should have his blood carefully screened if he intends to donate further, & skip the blood draws if he comes up + for Any TBDs."
We try to be VERY careful about accidentally transmitting my Lyme to him. My husband has NEVER been asked about Lyme when donating, that's why the original question came up. We started wondering about people transmitting it blindly.
If even a small portion of the population has undiagnosed Lyme and donates... At least HIV showed up on tests. I don't understand IDSA's DELIBERATE blindness. What is wrong with them? Why fight the research? We desperately need reliable testing for Lyme or this will be some epidemic down the line. Posted by ThatColorGreen (Member # 16016) on :
It's the reason I refuse to donate blood or be an organ donar.
Posted by ThatColorGreen (Member # 16016) on :
ha. just noticed the mention of organ donors.
yupp.. again. my point.
All of me is going to be made into ashes and brought to the galapagos islands to be spread next to the blue footed boobies.
...those birds are a riot.. Posted by Gerifrog (Member # 17990) on :
My Uncle donated his body to medical research... we were sent his ashes when they were through. Maybe that is a good idea since I can't help anyone now by donating organs. :{
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
Was told long time ago by rheume,& pain ![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
TO ALL IN NEED,KAREN
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
transmitting my Lyme to him. My husband has NEVER been asked about Lyme when donating, that's why the original question came up. We started wondering about people transmitting it blindly.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)