News Release: Red Cross Study Shows Fewer Blood Donors to be Affected by 'Mad Cow' Deferral

Recent survey predicts about 4 percent of Red Cross blood donors to be restricted from giving blood

WASHINGTON (August 24, 2001) - The American Red Cross has released survey results to a government advisory panel predicting about 4 percent of its current blood donors will become ineligible to give blood next month, when it begins restricting blood donors who have spent more than six months in Europe. In contrast, early estimates by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) projected a nationwide loss of up to 9 percent. The survey of Red Cross blood donors estimates the Red Cross will lose approximately 235,000 donations in the first year. The Red Cross has shared the findings and study methodology with the FDA.

"The market research shows that the impact may not be as bad as initially estimated. The focus must be on replacing lost donations," said Jacquelyn Fredrick, American Red Cross senior vice president of Biomedical Services and chief operating officer of Donor Enterprise.

Beginning mid-October, the American Red Cross will exclude from giving blood anyone who has spent more than 3 months cumulative time in the United Kingdom since 1980; more than 6 months cumulative time in any European country since 1980; or received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980. There is no blood test for the human form of mad cow disease, which has been shown to be transmissible by blood in laboratory mice and hamsters. These facts, combined with scientific uncertainty, prompted the Red Cross to take a prudent, cautious approach toward variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).

The American Red Cross study, conducted from May through June 2001, encompassed a representative sample of its current blood donors, who were interviewed by phone. All interviewees had given blood between March 2000 and March 2001. Primary findings follow:

• Approximately 4 percent of current Red Cross blood donors nationwide (about 154,000 people) will be excluded under the Red Cross's new guidelines. The previous FDA estimate of up to 9 percent equates to a loss of approximately 347,000 Red Cross whole blood donors.
• Approximately 1 percent of all eligible donors may wrongly self-defer, believing they are no longer eligible. This could equate to an additional loss of approximately 39,000 Red Cross donors.

Of the 154,000 newly restricted blood donors, about 78 percent will be ineligible because of time spent in Europe. About 22 percent will be ineligible because of time spent only in the United Kingdom.

The American Red Cross provides almost half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to 3,000 hospitals through its national network of 36 Blood Services regions. To donate blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.redcross.org for more information. Bernadine Healy, M.D., is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DONATION STATISTICS:

• Today, more people want to give blood. Nearly 7.5 million potential donors came to give blood at a Red Cross blood drive in FY01 (July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001) - a 6.1 percent increase over the previous year.

• The Red Cross collected more blood donations this year than last.
  • The Red Cross collected 6.4 million blood donations in FY01, a 1.3 percent growth over the previous year.
  • The Red Cross collected 552,000 donations in the month of July 2001, an 8 percent increase (39,800 units) compared to collections in July 2000.
  • 31 of 36 Blood Services Regions collected more blood in July 2001 than they did in July 2000. Twenty-four of these regions grew in excess of 5 percent.
  • To date, the number of total red blood cells in national inventory is 33 percent higher than this time last year (August 2000 to August 2001). At the same time, inventory of type O blood donations is 83 percent higher than August of last year.

• The Red Cross distributed more blood to hospitals this year than last.
  • Distributions of red blood cells to hospitals were 3.5 percent higher in July 2001 compared to July 2000.
  • Distributions of type O red blood cells to hospitals were 3.5 percent higher in July 2001 compared to July 2000.

• The American Red Cross will increase blood collections this year (FY02) by 5 percent.
  • The American Red Cross collected 6.4 million blood donations in FY01.
  • The American Red Cross will collect 6.7 million donations in FY02.

Editors Note: For more information about former American Red Cross testimonies, medical policies, news releases and a history of vCJD, visit http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/supply/tse.html.