JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

HIV

Includes

AIDS.

1. Affected Individual
Obligatory

Must not donate.

See if Relevant

Blood Safety Entry

Additional Information

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection can destroy the immune system and lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It is known to be transmitted by transfusion. In the early stages of infection the testing used by the Blood Services may not detect the virus allowing it to be passed on by transfusion.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

See below

2. Current or Former Sexual Partner of Affected Individual
Obligatory

Must not donate if:
Less than three months from the last sexual contact.

See if Relevant

Blood Safety Entry

Additional Information

HIV infection can be spread through sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. It may however not be transmitted for a long time into a relationship. This could be because the infection becomes more active in the infected partner, the uninfected partner acquires another infection or injury to a mucous membrane, or there is a change in the use of, or failure of, barrier contraceptives (condoms etc.). In the early stages of infection the testing used by the Blood Services may not detect the virus allowing it to be passed on by transfusion.

Waiting three months from the last sexual contact will ensure that any infection is picked up by the tests used by the Blood Services.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

See below

 

3. Person Currently or Formerly Sharing a Home with an Affected Individual
Discretionary

Accept.

See if Relevant

2. Current or Former Sexual Partner of Affected Individual above.

Additional Information

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

Reason for change

See below

Reason for change

This entry was updated to remove the reference to a separate entry for Northern Ireland. This is to reflect changes in donor selection criteria for donors in Northern Ireland (1st June 2020) which are in line with the other UK Blood Services and the SaBTO Donor Selection Criteria Review Report (2017).

Donor Information

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.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 50.