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

Blood Safety Entry

Obligatory

Information must be provided so that individuals at risk do not donate. The reasons for donor self-exclusion must be understood.

1. You must not donate if:
You think you need a test for HIV/AIDS, HTLV or hepatitis.

2. You must never donate if:
a) You are HIV positive.
b) You are HTLV positive.
c) You are a hepatitis B carrier.
d) You are a hepatitis C carrier.
e) You have ever received money or drugs for sex.
f) You have ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once. This includes bodybuilding drugs and injectable tanning agents. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs. Please ask.

3. You must not donate for at least 12 months after sex (even if you used a condom or other protective) with:
a) (If you are a man): another man.
b) (If you are a woman): A man who has ever had oral or anal sex with another man, even if they used a condom or other protective. There are exceptions, so please ask.

4. You must not donate for at least 12 months after sex (even if you used a condom or other protective) with:
A partner who is, or you think may be:
a) HIV or HTLV positive.
b) A hepatitis B carrier.
c) A hepatitis C carrier.
d) A partner who has ever received money or drugs for sex.
e) A partner who has ever injected, or been injected with, drugs: even a long time ago or only once. This includes bodybuilding drugs. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs. Please ask.
f) A partner who has, or you think may have been, sexually active, in parts of the world where HIV/AIDS is very common. This includes most countries in Africa. There are exceptions, so please ask.

See if Relevant

Addiction and Drug Abuse
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV
Homosexual and Bisexual Individuals
HTLV
Infection - General

Additional Information

Men who have sex with other men have a higher chance of having an undiagnosed infection which could be passed to anyone receiving their blood. During 2010 and 2011, SaBTO commissioned a subgroup to review the donor selection criteria and risks associated with blood donation by men who have had sex with men.

This review considered advances in the sensitivity of testing procedures currently in use in the UK, the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections in men who have had sex with men, and the current level of compliance with the permanent exclusion. This review recommended that the deferral period for men who have had sex with men should be reduced to 12 months after last sexual contact. The recommendations were approved by SaBTO and by the English Department of Health and the devolved authorities in Scotland, and Wales.

There may be exceptions for female partners of men who have ever had sex with men. They may be allowed to donate on the basis of an individual risk assessment.

'Blood Safety Leaflet Information' is available in the 'Document Library' of 'www.transfusionguidelines.org'.

Information

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

Reason for change

Removal of the reference to Blood and Tissues Safety Entry N.I.

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 35.