Did you have a blood transfusion before 1996?

I did my test a couple of years ago when this was first mentioned. I had a blood transfusion in Jan 1980 and have never been able to donate blood.

Just to add this is only available for people living in England

Thank you Humberbear. I’ve just sent off for mine. I had a blood transfusion after my first child in 1980.

Yes when my first son was born in 1966 I will ask about the test.

I had a blood transfusion just a year later so I presume I’m ok. I couldn’t donate blood afterwards and thought this was because of Mad Cow Disease.
I wonder how many other dangers people were exposed to were kept quiet and how would they know about this if they don’t read The Times?

Thanks for this. Have ordered my test. Had transfusions in 1981 (had lots of problems with these as I went into rigour each time they tried, and eventually they gave up. Then in 1990 following major surgery.

Thanks Humbertbear

Just ordered mine. Had a Blood Transfusion Jan 1992

I received a big blood transfusion during surgery in 1984. Before that, I'd been a regular blood donor for 16 years.

A year or two after that surgery I stopped in at the blood transfusion place to give them a pint, ran through the questions; including a couple of new ones. "Have you had surgery, have you received blood." I replied yes.

At the end of the questions the nurse told me " you can't give blood today" Why not? " Because of the medication you take. "
"It's the same hypertension medication I've taken for over 10 years; never been a problem before."
" Sorry, the protocol has changed, we don't accept that medication now ".

She purposely lied to cover up the real reason.

But I believed her and didn't offer blood again. 20 years later eldest son told me he'd heard 1980's transfusion recipients were no longer accepted as blood donors in case they had received infected blood Britain had bought from the USA. The US blood products could carry hepatitis and AIDS ( from infected donors in USA who were paid to donate) I called my GP who confirmed this and immediately arranged a blood test; all clear. I was lucky.

In that period the NHS infected over 30,000 people with HIV, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis B via contaminated blood and blood products, particularly affecting people with bleeding disorders like haemophilia. Caused by a reliance on imported, high-risk blood products and a lack of screening, the scandal has resulted in thousands of deaths and ongoing health problems.

What really sickens me is that the NHS KNEW transfusion recipients were at risk and never informed us. My medical record shows I'd received blood. I'd had many more surgeries in that 20 years of me not knowing I might be infected ; and not one surgeon had told me I was at risk and needed to get tested. Though I'm damn sure they were being extra careful to protect themselves from my at-risk blood.

My daughter had one just after she was born prematurely in 1983- maybe I should mention it to her?

I was a regular blood donor until I had blood transfusions in 1989/90 during my pregnancy
I was told I could no longer donate due to risk of 'mad cow disease'.
Although my daughter remembers me donating when she was young. I can't remember what year I stopped

I don’t think there is a cure for hep C, is there?
I got speaking to a woman whilst visiting my dad in the hospital. Her husband had picked that up from a blood transfusion years before. Now terminally ill.

I received a blood product (anti-Rhesus) in the late 1970s, after my first child was born Rhesus positive while I am Rhesus negative. I considered the hepatitis test but decided not to bother and my liver function has always been fine. I did donate blood for several years. Nobody asked me about receiving blood or blood products.

Easy test to do. Just prick of finger. Sent off and came back very quickly as negative. Nice to know. Thanks for advice on this.