Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19)

Includes

COVID-19 disease (due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus, previously known as Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV).

1. Person with confirmed symptomatic COVID-19
Obligatory	Must not donate if less than 14 days since resolution of symptoms.
Discretionary	a) If more than 14 days have passed since resolution of symptoms, accept. b) If less than 14 days since resolution of symptoms: refer to designated clinical support officer for individual risk assessment, if donation is urgent and cannot be delayed. See additional information.

2. Person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2
Obligatory	Must not donate if less than 14 days since confirmation of infection by positive results in a diagnostic test.
Discretionary	If less than 14 days have passed since confirmation of infection by positive results in a diagnostic test, refer to designated clinical support officer for individual risk assessment, if donation is urgent and cannot be delayed. See additional information.

3. Person with suspected COVID-19
Discretionary	a) If more than 14 days have passed since resolution of symptoms, and donor has been tested and advised they do not have COVID-19, and the donor remains well, accept. b) If less than 14 days have passed since resolution of symptoms, and: Donor has been tested and advised they do not have COVID-19, and the donor remains well. OR If the donor has not been tested to exclude the diagnosis of COVID-19. Refer to designated clinical support officer for advice.

See if Relevant

Coronavirus Vaccination
Infection - Acute
Contact with Infectious Diseases

Additional Information

Common coronaviruses cause colds and respiratory tract infections but are not considered a risk for tissue transplant recipients. Since 2002 there have been outbreaks in humans of new strains of coronavirus, associated with severe pulmonary infections and mortality rates of 10-35% e.g. SARS and MERS.

COVID-19 is an illness characterised by respiratory symptoms, including coughing and breathlessness, and fever. It is caused by infection with a newly identified Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Its full pathogenesis remains unknown but individuals with certain underlying chronic conditions, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals are at risk of more severe disease.

Some persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection may be asymptomatic. It is possible that they may have undergone testing for occupational health reasons (for example).

Some individuals will have symptoms for a protracted length of time after the systemic and respiratory symptoms of the acute infection have resolved. A wide range of symptoms, including cardiac and neurological, have been reported. It is important to identify any of the specific ongoing symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, even if seemingly mild or infrequent, that suggest that a donor may not have fully recovered to their pre-COVID-19 state of health, and that may put a donor at risk of an adverse event.

There is no evidence at present that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by tissue/cell transplantation.

For Bone Marrow (HPC-M) donations, donation should be scheduled in accordance with current guidance from the Royal College of Surgeons and Association of Anaesthetists and in discussion with the collection centre.

Post Donation Illness

Donors must be provided with information about contacting the registry co-ordinating their donation and the collection centre they donated at if they develop any illness within 14 days after donation.

Reason for Change

Additional Information’ section updated following removal of NICE recommendation to test donors.

Update Information: This entry was last updated in
TDSG-BM Edition 203, Release 54

Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19)

Update Information