I hope it's not a sign of limited public interest, but information seems to be scarce on new guidelines for blood donations.

These revised guidelines come in response to transfusion-related acute lung injury, or TRALI, in which a blood transfusion recipient's lungs fill with fluid, impairing breathing. This reaction typically occurs within six hours of a transfusion. According to the American Red Cross, "TRALI occurs in about 1:5,000 transfusions, and about 6% of TRALI reactions are fatal."

Researchers think that certain antibodies—specifically antibodies present in female donors who have been pregnant or donors who have themselves received transfusions—may be responsible for TRALI. As these antibodies are found most often in plasma, many blood centers are no longer accepting plasma donations from women.

Women are still eligible to give whole blood and other blood components, such as red blood cells and platelets.

Links:
American Red Cross Blood Bulletin (pdf)
Blood Donation Eligibility Guidelines (American Red Cross)

Photo: Army Cpl. Christopher LeRoy, 932nd Blood Support Detachment blood technician, begins the blood platelet donation procedure on Army Sgt. Jennifer Skebong, 583rd Medlog Co. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan blood platelets are being collected in the country for the treatment of critically injured patients. Courtesy of the Army's Soldiers Media Center.