JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee
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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 7 days since resolution of symptoms.

Discretionary

If more than 7 days have passed since resolution of symptoms, and the donor remains well, accept.

2. Person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 without symptoms
Obligatory

Must not donate if less than 7 days since confirmation of infection by positive results in a diagnostic test.

Discretionary

If more than 7 days have passed since confirmation of infection by positive results in a diagnostic test, accept.


See additional information.

3. Person with suspected COVID-19
Obligatory

Must not donate if less than 14 days since resolution of symptoms.

Discretionary

a)  If testing was not performed:

  • If more than 14 days have passed since resolution of symptoms, and the donor remains well, accept.
  • If more than 7 days but less than 14 days, See Infection - Acute entry.


OR


b) If testing was performed, and COVID-19 has been ruled out as a clinical diagnosis, see Infection - Acute entry.  

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). Routine screening of living asymptomatic tissue/cell donors is not necessary. They are likely to have been screened before hospital admission for a planned procedure as per hospital policy.


There is no evidence at present that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by tissue/ cell transplantation and therefore these measures are considered to be precautionary. 

Post Donation Illness

Donors must be provided with information about contacting the tissue establishment if they develop any illness within 14 days after donation

Reason for Change

Delete outdated information in the definition section, and ‘additional information’ section.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in
TDSG-CB Edition 203, Release 52