Lifelines (Spring 2000) - New Donor Deferral to be Instituted

New Donor Deferral to be Instituted

As of April 17th, 2000, all United States blood centers will begin deferring blood donors who have a theoretical risk of New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) or “Mad Cow disease.” The decision was made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - the federal body that regulates blood centers - to prevent the spread of the disease in the event that scientists can prove nvCJD can be transmitted through the blood supply.

To date, no cases of nvCJD transmissions by blood, blood products or plasma derivatives have been reported. Furthermore, there is no evidence of increased risk of nvCJD in patients who receive multiple transfusions, such as people with hemophilia or thalassemia. NvCJD is not transmitted by casual or sexual contact. However, the FDA has determined that the theoretical risk is something to be taken seriously. As a result, all blood banks must permanently defer donors if the answer to the following question is yes:

“Have you visited or lived in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands) for a total of six months or more from 1980 through 1996?”

CJD is a rare and very slow-developing disease of the central nervous system that is invariably fatal. It occurs in about one in a million people worldwide. Although the vast majority (85 percent) of cases are sporadic (with no identifiable cause), about 10 to 15 percent occur in families as a result of a gene mutation. In a small number of instances (less than 5 percent), CJD has been transmitted by the transplantation of corneas and dura matter (a brain-associated membrane), by injections of human pituitary-derived growth hormone, and by the reuse of electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes previously used on CJD patients.

What is nvCJD and How Does it Relate to “Mad Cow disease”?

CJD and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (“Mad Cow disease”) belong to the same family of diseases. Mad Cow disease was first identified in the United Kingdom in 1986 and more than 168,000 cases have been reported in British cattle since then. No cases have been reported in the U.S. Until recently, there had been no evidence of transmission of Mad Cow disease to humans. However, in 1996, the first cases of a new variant of CJD affecting humans (nvCJD) were reported from England. The clinical features and epidemiology of the variant are different from the classic CJD and researchers believe they are related to Mad Cow disease. Whether or not the patient contracted their disease by eating beef from diseased cattle is not known.

While there are no cases of CJD transmission through blood, blood products or plasma derivatives, the FDA has man- dated that blood centers institute this deferral. As always, the safety of the blood supply is our number one priority.

We estimate this new deferral will affect between 2 and 3 percent of blood donors in Northern California. If you think you are eligible to donate, please call us for an appointment.

We need you now more than ever!

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