Hepatitis C

Must not donate.

If the individual has been told that he/she is HCV antibody negative, then samples should be taken to determine eligibility.

Tissues Safety Entry

Hepatitis C is a serious viral infection that can lead to chronic liver disease, liver cancer (hepatoma) and chronic fatigue syndrome. It has also been linked with malignant lymphomas and autoimmune disease. The infection is very easily spread by transfusion.

Individuals who are chronically infected are sometimes referred to as 'carriers'. They often have no, or minimal, symptoms associated with their infection.

Many cases are linked to previous drug use and, before the introduction of HCV screening of blood donations, to transfusion.

Individuals who have had Hepatitis C infection in the past, and have been told that they have been successfully treated, will usually remain HCV antibody positive for many years. As a negative HCV antibody screening test is required before their donation can be issued, their tissues/cells cannot be used.

'Additional Information' has been added.

Must not donate if
Less than 3 months from the last sexual contact

a) If less than 3 months from the last sexual contact and the donor/donor family reports that their current or former HCV positive partner has been successfully treated for hepatitis C infection and has been free of therapy for at least 6 months prior to the last sexual contact and continues in sustained remission, accept.
 

b) If more than 3 months since last sexual contact, accept.

Tissues Safety Entry

Confirmation of the success of treatment of the HCV positive partner is not required
Individuals who remain HCV RNA negative six months after completing treatment are likely to have been ‘cured’, with a risk of relapse of less than 1%
 

In the United Kingdom sexual transmission of HCV from an infected individual to a sexual partner is low, but not zero.

As the treated individual would have a very low (<1%) risk of relapse of infection and sexual transmission of the hepatitis C virus is rare, the transmission of hepatitis C from a successfully treated individual to a sexual partner is most unlikely. This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for HCV is negative, if this test is stopped for any reason the guidance will change.
 

To include guidance for persons with treated and successfully cleared past Hepatitis C infection.

Accept.

Sexual Partners of HCV Positive Individuals above.

Hepatitis C is neither contagious nor spread by the faecal-oral route. It is usually only spread through a direct blood to blood route. For these reasons household contacts do not need to be deferred.