<<Blood/donor milk comparison: Some have suggested that it doesn't make
sense
for the USNS Comfort milk bank drive to be called off - that it is about as
hard to ship blood as it is to ship human donor milk, and no-one would be
turning away blood donations. Is this true, is it as hard to ship blood as
it is to ship human milk?>>

Jodine, I don't know about the logistics of shipping, but the donation
process is very different. Blood donors are screened by a lengthy process of
questioning regarding health habits and sexual partners. At least 4 vials of
blood are collected from each donor and screened for a number of infectious
disease/viruses. Donations are taken by certified professionals, follow
specific guidelines for donors, donations and storage. If there is anything
"wrong" with the donation (at the point of collection through to the point
of use) it is thrown away. But, it is usually only tested at the point of
collection. Visually it can be rejected at the point of use.

Please, I am not against milk donations, but I can imagine the person
receiving 500 bags of milk from unknown people. It would be one thing to
receive donations from specific donors with histories with the donation
organization, it is another thing to have a large quantity of something with
which you are unfamiliar and suspicious. If the donation was not requested
(and it appears to have been sent, not requested) there are policies to
follow. If there is no policy, who would make the decision to use it? And,
yes, many policies are ridiculous, but there is no health care situation
anywhere that isn't bound by policy.

Food for thought,
Sam Doak
Marietta OH

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome