This was supposed to be my second time donating blood. I went to the same company (Vitalant) both times. Apparently the first time I wasn't asked, or improperly answered questions about living outside the US. I was born in Europe, lived there for 6 years, then moved to the US.

Now I was told I can never donate blood because of some mad cow disease in the 80's. I would think I'd be dead by now if I had mad cow disease.


My question, if any of you know, is if different blood banks/companies share their donor databases with each other? If not, I could just go to another company and try to donate, and just not state I was born outside the US. If not, my other options are apparently blood letting (either by myself or through a doctor - but for a Doc I need to be diagnosed with high hematocrit, etc.)