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

Non-Consented Exposure to Human Body Fluids

Definitions

Non-Consented Exposure to Human Body Fluids:
A non-consented injury or assault in which an individual is exposed to potentially infective material that could be transferred through donation. The causes may range from a sharps injury to bites, punches and abrasions or sexual assault where mucous membranes have been contaminated with human blood or other body fluids. It also applies to any inoculation injury with abnormal prions from any species.

1. Affected Individual
Obligatory

Must not donate if:
a) The incident involved any material containing abnormal prions.

b) Less than four months after the date of an inoculation injury or contamination of mucosa or non-intact skin with human blood or body fluids.

c) Under ongoing investigations following exposure.

See if Relevant

Animal Bite (Non-Human)
Blood Safety Entry
Hepatitis
HIV
HTLV
Prion Associated Diseases
Xenotransplantation

Additional Information

Prion related diseases can be symptom free for many years. During the incubation stage, infection may be passed on by donated material.

Human blood or body fluids may be contaminated with infective material that may be passed on by donated material. Waiting four months (if a validated test for HBV, HCV HIV NAT is negative) helps to ensure that any infection is not passed on. This includes donors where the contact has Hepatitis B infection or is a recipient of blood derived coagulation factor concentrates.

If an individual is undergoing further tests or follow up following an exposure, donation should be deferred until all follow up is complete and above criteria apply.

This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for hepatitis C is negative. If this test is stopped, the guidance will change.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

2. Current or Former Sexual Partner of Affected Individual
Obligatory

Must not donate if:
The donor's sexual partner is being monitored for evidence of transmitted infection following exposure to a known infected individual.

Discretionary

a) If the partner has not been exposed to known infective material, accept.

b) If the partner was exposed to known infective material and has been told that they are not infected and no longer require to be monitored, accept.

c) If a former sexual partner and it is more than three months since the last sexual contact, accept.

See if Relevant

Hepatitis
HIV
HTLV
Prion Associated Diseases

Reason for change

The wording of this entry has been revised to improve clarity.

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 57