South American Trypanosomiasis Risk

Must not donate if:
1) Born in South America or Central America (including Mexico).

2) Mother was born in South America or Central America (including Mexico).

3) Has had a transfusion in South America or Central America (including Mexico).

4) Has lived and/or worked in rural subsistence farming communities in these countries for a continuous period of four weeks or more.

1) If at least four months from the date of last exposure, including transfusion abroad, and a validated T. cruzi antibody test is negative, accept.

2) If less than four months following the date of last exposure, discuss with a Designated Medical Officer.

3) If transfused after 1st January 1980, discuss with the Designated Medical Officer who will decide if the donor may be accepted following a documented risk assessment. This must take into account the availability of alternative donors, the risks of vCJD transmission and the expected benefits of using a particular donor.

Geographical Disease Risk Index for countries with T. cruzi risk
Transfusion

Infection with T. cruzi is very common in many parts of South or Central America and is often symptomless. It can be passed from an infected mother to her unborn baby and by transfusion. The insect that passes the infection on is only common in rural areas and the greater time that an individual has spent living in housing conditions with thatched roofs or mud lined walls which harbour the insect vector, the greater their risk of becoming infected. Testing is available and should be performed if there is a possibility of infection. Waiting four months from the last time of exposure allows time for the antibodies that are tested for to develop.

Camping or trekking in the jungle in South or Central America (including Mexico) is not considered of high enough risk to merit exclusion.

To reduce deferral period following last date of exposure from six to four months. To permit individual risk assessment if transfused after 1st January 1980. 
To also align this entry with the Geographical Disease Risk Index and change the reference to “Southern Mexico” to “Mexico”.