Red Cross Bars ME/CFS Patients

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http://wapo.st/gNqH04

The Washington Post

Posted at 4:23 PM ET, 12/ 3/2010

Red Cross bars chronic fatigue

patients from donating blood

By Rob Stein

The American Red Cross announced Friday that it is

barring people with chronic fatigue syndrome from

donating blood to reduce the risk of transmitting a

virus that has been associated with the disease.

The virus is known as xenotropic murine leukemia

virus-related virus or XMRV. Some studies have found

that people with chronic fatigue syndrome are more

likely to carry the virus. But it remains far from clear

whether the virus causes the disease.

Nevertheless, the Red Cross decided to bar people

with the syndrome from donating " in the interest of

patient and donor safety, " according to an

announcement [http://bit.ly/fdIBPi] from the

organization.

" At present, there are no specific federal

recommendations regarding deferral of individuals

with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or other

diseases that have been associated with Murine

Leukemia Virus-related virus (XMRV) infection.

Nevertheless, in the interest of patient and donor

safety, the American Red Cross will defer indefinitely

any donor who reveals during the donor interview

that they have been diagnosed with CFS, " the

statement said.

" There is currently insufficient data to conclude that

XMRV is transmitted through blood transfusion.

However, the National Heart, Lung and Blood

Institute (NHLBI) Task force is conducting research

to determine the frequency of the virus in the donor

population, whether it is transfusion-transmitted,

and whether recipients become infected and develop

the disease, " it said.

A task force that reviews blood safety for an

organization known as the AABB recommended in

June that blood collecting organization " actively

discourage potential donors who have ever been

diagnosed by a physician with chronic fatigue

syndrome ... or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), from

donating blood or blood components.

In addition, any donor with symptoms of CFS would

be deferred if, on the day of donation, they respond

negatively to the question, 'Are you feeling well

today?' " the agency said.

The recommendation came after new research

strengthened the possible connection between

the virus and the syndrome.

" The Red Cross has implemented the AABB

recommendations and has gone further to implement

indefinite deferral for donors who reveal a history of

a medical diagnosis of CFS, " the statement said.

The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates

blood safety, had no immediate comment on the

decision. The agency is convening a panel of outside

experts to review the issue later this month.

``````

http://bit.ly/fdIBPi

American Red Cross

American Red Cross

Statement on XMRV

and Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome

National Headquarters

2025 E Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006

www.redcross.org

Contact: Public Affairs Desk

FOR MEDIA ONLY

media@...

Phone:

WASHINGTON, Friday, December 03, 2010

At present, there are no specific federal

recommendations regarding deferral of individuals

with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or other

diseases that have been associated with Murine

Leukemia Virus-related virus (XMRV) infection.

Nevertheless, in the interest of patient and donor

safety, the American Red Cross will defer indefinitely

any donor who reveals during the donor interview

that they have been diagnosed with CFS.

XMRV infection has been associated in some studies

with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome,

but at the present time these disease associations

have yet to be confirmed.

There is currently insufficient data to conclude that

XMRV is transmitted through blood transfusion.

However, the National Heart, Lung and Blood

Institute (NHLBI) Task force is conducting research

to determine the frequency of the virus in the donor

population, whether it is transfusion-transmitted,

and whether recipients become infected and develop

the disease.

An AABB Interorganizational Task Force is charged

with reviewing all available data, making

recommendations for further action to assess the risk

of XMRV transmission through blood transfusion,

develop mitigation strategies as needed, and to

provide information for blood donors, recipients and

the public.

The AABB Taskforce released Association Bulletin

#10-03 in June 2010, recommending that blood

collecting organizations — through the use of

donor education materials available at the

donation site — actively discourage potential

donors who have ever been diagnosed by a

physician with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS),

also known as chronic fatigue and immune

dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) or myalgic

encephalomyelitis (ME), from donating blood or

blood components.

In addition, any donor with symptoms of CFS would

be deferred if, on the day of donation, they respond

negatively to the question, " Are you feeling well

today? "

The Red Cross has implemented the AABB

recommendations and has gone further to implement

indefinite deferral for donors who reveal a history of

a medical diagnosis of CFS.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides

emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies

nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving

skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and

supports military members and their families. The

Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a

government agency — and depends on volunteers

and the generosity of the American public to perform

its mission. For more information, please visit

www.redcross.org or join our blog at

http://blog.redcross.org.