Page "Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease" Paragraph 20

On May 28, 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration instituted a policy that excludes from donation anyone who spent at least six months in certain European countries, ( or three months in the United Kingdom ), from 1980 to 1996.

Given the large number of U. S. military personnel and their dependents residing in Europe, it was expected that over 7 % of donors would be deferred due to the policy.

Later changes to this policy have relaxed the restriction to a cumulative total of five years or more of civilian travel in European countries ( six months or more if military ).

The three-month restriction on travel to the UK, however, has not been changed.