Thousands flood to donate blood after Orlando club massacre - but scores are turned away because homosexuals are STILL banned from giving blood in the US

There had been early reports that the blood ban had been temporarily lifted in Orlando due to the overwhelming need, but OneBlood quickly responded and said this was not the case, writing on Twitter: 'All FDA guidelines remain in effect for blood donation. There are false reports circulating that FDA rules were being lifted. Not true.' 

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Orlando Health Surgical Critical Care Dr Michael Cheatham said Sunday morning: 'We have spent the morning operating on a number of victims. We continue to operate on them. We found many of them are critically ill.

'Blood is a wonderful gift. You can work through the local banks to be able to donate and that would be a tremendous help.'

OneBlood's website issued a statement Sunday morning saying they were particularly looking for O negative, O positive and AB donors to donate as soon as possible. 

The blood agency said it was needed to aid the wounded. 

Pat Michaels, a spokesman for OneBlood toldWFTV: 'Dozens of people have been injured and taken to area hospitals.' 

He said the need for 'blood continues'. 

Michaels added that donors should be generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds.