In Finland, these factors preclude donating blood:
- male homosexuality (supposed AIDS risk; C-Dawg points my attention to the fact that, presumably, this refers to having sex with other males and not just being homosexual, although the Finnish Red Cross merely states that male homosexuality prevents donating blood)
- most chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, and diabetes (being that Finland has the highest incidence of IDDM (type 1 diabetes) in the world, this has an effect on blood supplies. They wouldn't take my blood, for instance. I suppose the reason is the possibility of health risks for a chronically ill donor.)
- intravenous drug abuse, severe alcoholism
- HIV, hepatitis, syphilis
- having lived in Great Britain for more than six months between 1980 and 1996 (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)
- less than a week has passed since having a cold (two weeks if feverish)
- less than two weeks have passed since taking antibiotics or sulfa drugs
- the required time has not passed since having a vaccination (varies from three days to four weeks)
- pregnancy, breast feeding
- childbirth less than nine months ago
- having been in malaria-infested areas less than six months or three years ago (depending on duration of stay)
- being tattooed or pricked by a used syringe or having acupuncture (by someone who is not a health care professional) less than one year ago
- brief sexual relations less than two months ago
- working as a prostitute, buying the services of a prostitute, or having a sexually transmitted disease less than one year ago
Source:
Finnish Red Cross, Veripalvelu, http://www.veripalvelu.redcross.fi/verenluovutus/main111.html