Tuesday 27 April 2010

Australia's Red Cross Blood Service has reviewed its donation guidelines after Canada halted donations from people who have had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Donations from people who have or have ever had a diagnosis of CFS have now been deferred.

According to the Red Cross Blood Service, this is the current policy on blood donations for people with ME/CFS:

I have/had chronic fatigue syndrome. Can I donate?

Scientists have recently identified a possible link between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and a virus called XMRV. We would like to point out that at present there is no evidence that this virus causes disease. Despite the fact that this link has not been proven, the Blood Service is taking the precautionary measure of deferring donors who have ever had CFS from donating blood. This precaution has been taken to protect blood recipients until more is known about XMRV.

The new policy will be reviewed within 2 years in the expectation that further data will become available to allow a more definitive assessment of the link between XMRV and CFS.

For the current policy on ME/CFS and blood donation, please visit the Red Cross Blood Service website.  

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