Two Oklahoma blood banks are going to bar women from donating plasma because it may contain antibodies causing a rare complication.
The ban takes effect Dec. 28 at the Oklahoma Blood Institute in Oklahoma City, The Oklahoman reported. American Red Cross Blood Services in Tulsa is adopting similar rules.
Women can still donate platelets, red blood cells or whole blood.
Eight cases of a condition known as transfusion related acute lung injury or TRALI have been reported in Oklahoma. The condition is caused by the transfusion of plasma containing white-cell antibodies.
Women may have the antibodies if they have been pregnant, have had a transplant or have received blood transfusions.
Just over half the blood donors in Oklahoma are women.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
