Blood

[Rich1957]

After you reach SVR can you donate your blood or is considered tainted? Also I am down as an organ donor , do I have to inform them that I had HVC in the past? Sorry for all the questions just am curious, like to know every thing about this problem. Thanks in advance.

[Mike]

No. The Red Cross will not allow blood donations if you've had Hep-C. This is because, when blood is donated, it is screened for the Hep-C antibody, and discard if it test positive. Since anyone who has been exposed to the virus will test positive for the antibody (regardless if the virus has been cleared), the blood is excluded and the individual is put in a national data base for this purpose.

There are some other issues, which include life insurance, sports participation and so on that rely on the Hep-C antibody test. I'm not sure if there is still an exclusion based on an antibody test when the virus has been in fact cleared (cured).

I'm going to ask my doctor for a letter indicated cured for this purpose.

[Rich1957]

Thanks Mike you are a HVC dictionary. LOL

[Mike]

Thanks Rich,

I've been dealing with Hep-C for about 15 years and have followed the research and issues over the years - especially since the new generation of drugs have come out.

Solvadi is really a miracle drug - I never thought there could be a possible cure for me since I failed the state of the art treatment in 2001.

Anyway, best wishes for your health, cure and ability to put Hep-C behind you, Mike