JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Age

Definitions

First Time Donor
Is an individual who has not previously donated. It is also a person who has previously attended but, for whatever reasons, did not give a full donation (e.g. deferred because of selection guidelines, failed screen test, failed venepuncture, part bag etc).

Regular Donor
Is a donor who has been medically assessed at a donor session in the last 24 months. For component donors this must include mandatory infection screening and, for all donors over the age of 72 years, this must also include giving a full donation.

Returning Donor
Is a donor who has not attended a donation session or been medically assessed within the last 24 months, but who has previously given a full donation.

Full Donation
An amount above the minimum required volume has been collected.

Obligatory

Whole blood and component donors.
Must not donate if:

a) They are under 17 years of age.

b) They are a first time donor who has had their 66th birthday.

c) They are a returning donor who has had their 72nd birthday.

Additional Information

The lower age limit takes account of national laws on age of consent.

Upper age limits for blood and component donation have traditionally been set to protect the donor's safety. There is however little evidence to support this. Donor haemovigilance data show a decreased incidence of adverse events in older donors compared to younger donors, although there is an increase in local complications of donating (i.e. bruising and rebleeds). Donor adverse event monitoring will continue to inform the need for any modification to this guidance.

To donate after their 72nd birthday a donor must remain in good health and have given at least one full donation in the previous 24 months. To continue donating they must give no less than one full donation every 24 months.

When appropriate, donors may be accepted on their birthday.

Information

This entry is compliant with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

The age limit for returning donors has been increased to 72 years.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue, please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 72