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

Asthma

Obligatory

Must not donate if:
a) Asthma is symptomatic.

b) Taking, or has completed a course of oral or injected steroids lasting more than 3 weeks within the last six months.

c) The donor has needed long term (six months or more) treatment with oral or injected steroids within the last 12 months.

d) The donor has taken a short course (less than three weeks) of oral or injected steroids in the last seven days.

 

Discretionary

If b), c) or d) above do not apply and the potential donor is asymptomatic at the time of donation, even if taking regular preventive treatment, including inhaled steroids, accept.

See if Relevant

Infection - General
Steroid Therapy

Additional Information

Taking blood from a person with symptomatic asthma will lower the amount of oxygen the blood can carry and could make their symptoms worse.

Steroid therapy can hide the signs and symptoms of infection. Blood from an infected donor can be dangerous to the person receiving it.

Reason for change

To bring the guidance on steroid therapy for asthma in line with that with steroid therapy for other conditions.

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:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 28.