Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly
I still think that as long as the HIV test is negative people should be able to give blood regardless of their sexuality.
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I would beg to differ on that one, as somebody has pointed out, you have to go with the odds. However, just because somebody initially tests negative for HIV doesn't mean that they don't have it. It takes 12 weeks (roughly) from contact with an infected person for the antibodies to show in the blood. Antigens can show up sooner but those tests are more expensive.
Having said that, the fastest growing HIV population is actually amongst heterosexual females in the UK who tend to be under 25 years of age. Maybe it's time to discrminate against them too.... For the time being, the Blood Transfusion Service are playing the odds, unfortunately it does seem that their odds are ever so slightly out of date.
I have a detailed analysis of these statistics if anyone wishes to see it. I have to warn you that it is 11,000 words long and extremely boring...... I should know, I wrote it..
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