I got deferred years ago because a batch test including my sample came up positive for hepatitis (I forget which type.) I immediately went to my doctor and got tested. I had no risk factors, so the doctor was confused, but they ran the test anyway. It came back negative.

But the center said I was deferred for life, without a chance that I could ever donate anything again. All the plasma they had taken from me had to be destroyed. It was heartbreaking, and I’m still confused how they could defer someone permanently for something that wasn’t even in their own sample.