AMERICAN RED CROSS EASES DONOR DEFERRAL RULES REGARDING MAD COW DISEASE (Monday, Feb. 21 2005) ATLANTA – The American Red Cross Blood Services has revised its donor deferral guidelines for variant CJD (vCJD), the human variants of Mad Cow disease. The new guidelines take effect February 21, 2005 and may open the door for thousands of previously deferred individuals to now safely donate blood and platelets at Red Cross donor centers and blood drives across the Southern Region. Previous Deferral Criteria  Deferral Criteria Effective February 21, 2005 Cumulative time of six months or more in Europe and eastern Europe from January 1, 1980 to the present Cumulative time of five years or more in Europe from January 1, 1980 to the present Cumulative time of three months or more in the United Kingdom from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996 or a blood transfusion in the UK from 1980 to the present Cumulative time of three months or more in the United Kingdom from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996 or received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present N/A Six months or more as a member of the U.S. military, civilian military employee or a dependant of either associated with a military base, in any of the following areas during the following timeframes: From 1980 through 1990 – Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland) or Germany From 1980 through 1996 – Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece Previously deferred donors still must meet all other pre-donation criteria and will have to call the Southern Region’s Donor Suitability hotline (1-800-345-7444, ext. 5288 or ext. 5410), Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and speak with a Donor Health Counselor before they can be reinstated.