Non-Contagious Diseases - Contact With

Non Contagious Disease:
This is a disease which is not easily transmitted from person to person. It may be a zoonotic infection or it may result from a shared environmental issue e.g. food poisoning or a common travel history.

Zoonotic infection:
The WHO defines this as any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans. 

Refer to the specific entry for the disease. If there is no specific entry, and/or no instruction for contacts, use the guidance below.

Must not donate if:
a) Diagnosed with, or showing symptoms of, the disease.

b) Under investigation or monitoring for potential infection with the disease. This includes any deferral period recommended by Public Health.

c) The donor has been exposed to the same circumstances that led to infection in another human. This might include a common travel history or, in the case of food poisoning, to the consumption of the same food.

If the donor:
•    Is well and has no symptoms of infection, and
•    Is not being investigated or monitored, and
•    Is not considered to be at high risk of infection,
accept.

If there is a shared risk for a transfusion transmissible infection, see the index entry for that condition.

Many infections are not easily spread from one person to another. In other situations, the infection with which there has been contact will not represent a risk to recipients and staff. Donors reporting such contact can normally be accepted but the nature of the contact should be assessed. For instance, has the potential donor had the same risk factors as an infected individual e.g. travelled to the same place or eaten the same food. If they have, the risk of the potential donor also being infected must be considered together with any appropriate deferral.

For some zoonotic infections, people in contact with affected animals may be followed up by health protection teams. This can include a period of monitoring for potential transmission of the infection. Individuals in this situation should not be accepted to donate until further review or testing is no longer required, and any deferral period stipulated by the health protection team has elapsed.

If in doubt:
Contact a 'Designated Clinical Support Officer'.

Guidance and information has been added for donors under investigation or monitoring following contact with a zoonotic infection.

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.