Organ Donors

[Guest Leidenschaft]

Hi, not sure if this is the best place for this...? I did a search on the subject of "Organ Donors" in this forum and although I found many interesting posts, I'm still unsure about our status as Organ Donors?

My mom, gluten-free 15 years, has told me that we (we live in Canada) are not eligible to donate blood, however we can donate organs.

Can somebody explain to me why, and what the difference is? Aren't our organs made up of our blood as well?

Thanks in advance!

[Guest Viola]

Hello;

When I inquired into how this could be to the B.C. organ donor registry they told me that the organs were stripped of the blood and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before they were used. So there would be no danger of passing on an auto immune disease.

I carry an organ donor card, and still can't give blood. Strange but true.

[lovegrov]

In the U.S. we can give blood. Always seemed very weird to me you can't in Canada. I don't think you can pass this along just by giving blood.

richard

[Guest Viola]

I think it's weird as well. However their reasoning is that the person needing blood is in a weakened position in the first place. They want to be very sure that giving them blood from a person with an auto immune disease won't compromise their recovery. I gather there is still research going on up here on the subject. So far we are still not allowed.

My question is that so many people are still un-diagnosed and they are likely giving blood. I don't think the blood goes through the celiac testing before it is given out.

[lovegrov]

I'm sure the blood doesn't go through celiac testing, plus there are many people with other undiagnosed autoimmune conditions donating. Not allowing blood donation just seems silly to me.

richard

[celiac3270]

I'm sure the blood doesn't go through celiac testing, plus there are many people with other undiagnosed autoimmune conditions donating. Not allowing blood donation just seems silly to me.

richard

Good point--I didn't even think about all the undiagnosed celiacs out there donating blood.