Oklahoma blood bank feels effects of lifting tattoo ban
The institute will hold a blood drive 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Oklahoma City at the Chase Tower. The Bedlam football- themed drive is sponsored by Devon Energy Corp.
Institute spokeswoman Heidi Cohn said that in 2005, the nonprofit group deferred 1,278 potential donors because they had recently gotten tattoos. The institute has to defer about 43,000 donors annually for various health reasons. Although statistics are not yet available for this year, Cohn said the tattoo-related numbers are growing.
The American Red Cross’ donation guidelines say that hepatitis concerns require a waiting period before a recently tattooed person can donate: Only a few states currently regulate tattoo facilities, so most donors with tattoos must wait 12 months after tattoo application before donating blood, the agency said.