| Definitions | Acute: Lasting for a limited duration only, with no long lasting carrier stage Systemic: Any medicine taken by mouth, injection or suppository. It does not include local skin or nail treatments, or drops or creams used in the eye, ear or nose. |
| Obligatory | See: Is there is a specific A-Z index entry for the condition you are concerned about? Must not donate if: a) Infected. b) Less than two weeks from recovery. c) Less than seven days from completing systemic antibiotic, anti-fungal or antiviral treatment. Contact with: See: Infectious Diseases - Contact With Or Non-Contagious Diseases - Contact With |
| Discretionary | Cold sores, genital herpes and common upper respiratory tract infections such as colds and sore throats but not influenza, if recovering, accept. |
| See if Relevant | Chikungunya Virus Endocarditis Giardiasis Herpes Simplex Malaria Rabies Rheumatic Fever SARS Sexually Transmitted Disease Steroid Therapy Surgery Tetanus Thrush Viral Haemorrhagic Fever West Nile Virus |
| Additional Information | Many infections can be spread by donated material. It is important that the donor does not pose a risk of giving an infection to a recipient. Waiting two weeks from when the infection is better and seven days from completing systemic antibiotic, anti-fungal or antiviral treatment makes it much less likely that there will still be a risk of the infection being passed on. There is no evidence that cold sores, genital herpes and common upper respiratory infections such as colds and sore throats can be passed on by transfusion but it is still necessary to wait until any such infection is obviously getting better before allowing anyone to donate. In some situations, although the infection may not be transmissible by donation, there is a duty of care to prevent infection passing to other donors or staff, e.g. an infestation of head lice. |
| Information | This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005. |
| Reason for change | Definitions of 'Acute' and 'Systemic' have been added. A reference to 'contact with' has been added under 'Obligatory'. The links in 'See if Relevant' have been extended. |
| 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. |