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Blood Donor Screening
The United States blood supply is kept as safe as possible from infectious diseases, including some parasitic diseases, through strict Food and Drug Administration screening guidelines. The bloodborne parasitic diseases that U.S. blood banks screen for, by interview or by testing, are Chagas disease (or American trypanosomiasis), babesiosis, and malaria.
Potential blood donors are asked if they have had babesiosis or Chagas disease. If so, they may be deferred from donating blood. In addition, all blood donated in the U.S. is now tested for Chagas disease. Potential blood donors are also asked about their recent travel to malaria-risk areas. Most travelers to an area with malaria are deferred from donating blood for 1 year after their return. Former residents of malaria-risk areas will be deferred for 3 years. Persons diagnosed with malaria cannot donate blood for 3 years after treatment, during which time they must have remained free of symptoms of malaria. For more detailed information, please see Chagas disease and malaria.
For information on donating blood, see the AABB's Blood Donation Frequently Asked Questions and The Blood Donation Process.
Related Bloodborne Parasitic Diseases
For more information on some of the bloodborne parasitic diseases that U.S. blood banks screen for, please select from the list below.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease)
B
Babesiosis (Babesia Infection)
C
Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis)
M
T
Trypanosomiasis, American (Chagas disease)
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