There are other equally unfair disqualifications for donation, you know, Serene.
And many of these really piss of those of us who would otherwise be able to give blood. Any man who has had sex with a man since 1975 is disqualified for the rest of his life, regardless of disease status. A woman who has had sex with a man in the past two years (I think) who has had sex with a man since 1975 is disqualified. I am pretty much permanently disqualified, at least as long as I have sex with my husband.
Re: I do remember our having problems with lumbar punctures and bone marrow extractions
And many of these really piss of those of us who would otherwise be able to give blood. Any man who has had sex with a man since 1975 is disqualified for the rest of his life, regardless of disease status. A woman who has had sex with a man in the past two years (I think) who has had sex with a man since 1975 is disqualified. I am pretty much permanently disqualified, at least as long as I have sex with my husband.