why is it that after getting a tattoo, you have to wait a year before you can donate blood?
2006-12-11 08:33:37 · 3 answers · asked by jessie f 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Getting a tattoo is very safe these days if you have them done professionally, but the blood banks consider this a risk for hepatitis because of the possibility of needle contamination. It could take up to a year for the virus to show up in their tests, so they err on the "safe" side. They still won't let my husband donate because he lived in on a military base when all of the mad cow stuff was going around . . . and I assure you he doesn't have mad cow disease! They always lean to the "safe" side of things.
2006-12-11 08:47:17 · answer #1 · answered by Jen RN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possible contamination of the needle which has gotten into your blood, ink seeping into your blood. Possibility of infections passed by the needle, etc.
2006-12-11 08:36:07 · answer #2 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Especially HIV and hepatitis. You can go to redcross.org to read the guidelines.
2006-12-11 08:40:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋