A policeman who gave 233 pints of blood has called for new measures after he was barred from donating because of an allergy to swabs.

Inspector Nigel Hirst, 44, of Shipley, who has given blood for 25 years, first encountered problems donating five years ago when his arm broke into a rash.

But a bottled alternative to the antiseptic swabs, which are left on the skin to keep out infection, allowed him to continue until it was withdrawn 18 months ago.

Undeterred, Insp Hirst carried on donating having his arm wiped after the use of swabs, only to be stopped midway through a donation.

"The doctor wanted to leave the swab on but I said 'no' and they told me I couldn't carry on," said Insp Hirst who had been giving double donations because of his high platelet count.

"I just find it astronomical that we can't find a replacement to the medi-swab.

"The last time I went to donate, there was a person at the side of me that had a red arm as well. It's not just me, it's quite common."

The medi-swab is an alcohol based, antiseptic pad which is only effective if left to dry on the skin. But transfusion medicine consultant Dr Sheila Maclennan from Leeds said it was the only available single-use antiseptic, unlike the bottles which are used time and time again.

"If bugs get into the blood components, it can have serious consequences for the patient," she said. "People can get allergic to things they use all the time such as perfume. There is a national group which is looking at alternatives but these things need validating before we can use them."

Ian Ash, Transfusion Service spokesperson, said he understood the disappointment.

"It's really annoying because the people that want to donate are the ones that are being stopped. People can go along on the day and have a cold or a low iron level and get very disappointed when they're told they can't donate. We have such trouble getting new donors and then we have to send them away. But the donor comes first and foremost."

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