Obligatory | Must not donate if: a) The donor has ever had malaria. b) The donor has had an undiagnosed fever (which could have been malaria) while abroad or within four months of leaving a malaria endemic area. c) The donor has lived in any malarial endemic area for a continuous period of six months or more at any time of life. d) Less than 12 months after last leaving a malaria endemic area. |
Discretionary | a) Donors who have had malaria diagnosed in the past: If the donor (with a history of malaria) has revisited a malaria endemic area and at least four months have passed since return and a validated test for malarial antibody is to be performed, accept. b) Donors who have EVER had an undiagnosed fever that could have been malaria while in a malarial area or within four months of leaving a malaria endemic area: c) Donors who have EVER been resident in a malarial endemic area for 6 months or more: d) For all other donors:
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See if Relevant | The 'Geographical Disease Risk Index' for countries with a current endemic malaria risk. |
Additional Information | Cases of transfusion transmitted malaria have occurred many years after the donor was last at risk of becoming infected with malaria. This is mainly a problem in people who have had repeated episodes of infection with malaria. Although this is uncommon, before allowing someone who has had, or may have had, malaria to donate, it is safer to test for malaria antibodies rather than to wait a specific length of time. Transfusion transmitted malaria is often fatal. |
Information | This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005. |
Reason for change | Change to the deferral period required prior to testing donors with a defined malarial risk: SACTTI advised on decreasing the malarial deferral period (from six to four months) before a malarial antibody test result can be considered valid and be used to release donations from malarial risk donors
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Donor Information | If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line. |
This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 38.