Irish Blood Transfusion Service
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The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), or Seirbhís Fuilaistriúcháin na hÉireann in
History
The service is the successor to the National Blood Transfusion Association which was established in 1948 and was, itself, born from the work carried out by the
The symbol of the service is a stylised
Infected Blood Product Scandals
In 1994, the BTSB informed the Minister for Health that a batch of "Anti-D" blood product they had distributed in 1977 for the treatment of pregnant mothers had been contaminated with the Hepatitis C virus. Following a report by an expert group, it was discovered that the BTSB had produced and distributed a second infected batch in 1991. The Government established a
The BTSB anti-D scandal triggered an general examination of the BTSB's procedures for screening blood products for the treatment of Hemophilia and exposed the unwitting infection of many Hemophiliacs with HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. This resulted in the closure of the BTSB's main laboratory, curtailment in the production of some blood products, widespread changes to the management and structure of the organization and its eventual renaming in 2000.
About blood
The frequency of
O Positive | 47% | O Negative | 8% | A Positive | 26% | A Negative | 5% |
B Positive | 9% | B Negative | 2% | AB Positive | 2% | AB Negative | 1% |
It is important that the IBTS collects enough O Rh D positive blood as almost half the population are that blood type. Donors with O Rh D negative are known as universal donors. Their blood can be transfused to patients of any other blood group in an emergency or if the patient's own blood group is unavailable. Because any patient can receive O Rh D negative blood, the IBTS need to have extra O Rh D negative blood available at all times.
Eligibility to donate
The service depends entirely on voluntary donations from the public. New donors must be aged between 18 and 64, weigh over 50 kilograms (7 stone 12 lbs), and be in good health. At every donation
The IBTS imposes a number of restrictions on those who can give blood. A four-month restriction is placed on donors who have had piercings or tattoos or had acupuncture, and a similar restriction on anyone who has visited a tropical country (three months). There is a year-long deferral for those who have visited a malarial area. Additionally, there are groups of people who are permanently barred from donating blood based on their membership of high-risk groups. People who have ever been injected with any kind of non-prescription drug, and anyone who have ever been paid for sex with money or drugs are also permanently barred from donating blood.
Ban on men who have sex with men
Up to 28 November 2022, men who have sex with men (MSM) could not donate blood if they had engaged in oral or anal sex with another man at least 4 months prior to a donation. This policy came into effect from 28 March 2022 and came under heavy criticism from politicians, such as the Labour Party's Senator Annie Hoey and Sinn Féin Senator Lynn Boylan,[5] as well as the public[6] due to a perceived lack of scientific basis for the policy and the lack of information on the reason for the rule.[7] The IBTS has also been criticised for rolling back on the recommendation formally adopted by its Board in September 2021 to remove oral sex between men as a grounds for deferral from March 2022.[8]
From January 2017 to March 2022, MSM were required to abstain from all oral and anal sex for a 12-month period prior to donation. This position had replaced the previous lifetime deferral for any man who had ever engaged in oral or anal sex with another man.
From the end of November 2022, all prospective blood donors, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, may donate blood if they have not engaged in anal sex with a new partner, or multiple partners, in the 4 months prior to the donation.[9]
Donor Awards
Donors are recognised for their commitment by being awarded as follows: A silver award is given for 10 donations; a gold award for 20 donations; a gold drop-shaped lapel pin (representing blood) for 50 donations; and presentation at an awards dinner ceremony, and a porcelain pelican, for 100 donations.
Platelets and bone marrow
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is also responsible for the collection of blood
References
- ^ "S.I. No. 78/1965 – The Blood Transfusion Service Board (Establishment) Order, 1965". Irishstatutebook.ie. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Irish Blood Transfusion Service :: Share Life, Donate Blood". 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Blood Transfusion Service Board" (PDF). Oireachtas Library. 11 March 1997. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Irish Blood Transfusion Service – Irish Blood Group Type Frequency Distribution". Irish Blood Transfusion Service. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ "An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business – Seanad Éireann (26th Seanad) – Tuesday, 29 Mar 2022". www.oireachtas.ie. Houses of the Oireachtas. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Letters to the editor: We need clarity over donating blood to tackle acute shortage". Irish Examiner. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ McCurry, Cate (28 March 2022). "'Disappointment' over change to wait time for gay men to donate blood". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Restrictions On Gay Men Giving Blood Will Be Lifted". 18 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.