Interactions between science, government and media on selection and testing of donors

The international media attention to "bad blood" has fueled governmental action in countries around the world. Donor selection criteria continue to expand, focusing most recently on the possibility of exclusion due to intranasal cocaine use and, in the US, due to incarceration for more than 72 hours. As newer methods of testing evolve, more deferrals will occur due to improved testing. An emerging area of concern is the non-standardized notification of donors who are ineligible to donate and lack of a centralized listing of such deferred donors. Because of the consequences to recipients, improvements in both donor questioning and testing are necessary. Further studies are needed to understand and improve these processes.