August 10, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS: Laura Little, PR/Marketing Coordinator
Office: (903) 535-5435
Cell: (903) 520-9844

TEXANS WITH TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS

CAN BE BLOOD DONORS AT CARTER BLOODCARE’S STEWART CENTER

Mt. Pleasant / Paris, TX (September 27, 2007) – On Tuesday, September 25, CNN featured a segment about the challenge blood centers nationwide face in recruiting young blood donors. Many centers across the country still restrict tattoo or body piercing recipients from giving blood for the period of one year, causing many otherwise eligible donors to be turned away.

However, Carter BloodCare’s Stewart Center and other Texas blood centers are able to accept donations from many of these willing donors right away. Provided the procedure was done at a licensed facility in Texas, donors who have received tattoos or body piercing are eligible to donate at any time. AABB, formerly the American Association of Blood Banks, no longer requires the one-year deferral if the procedure was done in a licensed facility.

Thanks to Texas licensing laws, tattoo and piercing facilities have strict guidelines requiring sterile and single-use equipment and are inspected regularly. These added safety measures allow for tattoo and piercing recipients to avoid the possible blood exposure that would prevent them from being eligible to give blood. The decision by AABB was reviewed and approved by Carter BloodCare medical directors and other centers in the state.

Since the implementation of this policy over two years ago, the number of donors deferred temporarily for tattoos and body piercing has dropped dramatically, particularly at high school and college blood drives.

Many modern medical treatments rely on transfusions and would be impossible without a reliable blood supply. Every day, someone in our community will need a blood transfusion for an unexpected accident, a much-needed surgery or regular medical treatment. Blood cannot be stockpiled; it is perishable and the supply must be constantly replenished. Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days, and platelets only have five.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health. Most medications do not effect donor eligibility, even those with well-managed diabetes can be donors. For more information about donor eligibility, call the Carter BloodCare Stewart Center at 1-800-252-5584, or visit stewartblood.org.

Volunteer donors at Carter BloodCare and Carter BloodCare’s Stewart Center provide lifesaving blood for patients at over 300 healthcare facilities in 54 North Central and East Texas counties. Carter BloodCare is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks, licensed by the Food and Drug Administration and is a member of America’s Blood Centers.

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