Anticoagulant therapy - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Definition/s

An anticoagulant is a drug taken to limit the ability of blood to form a clot. Examples include heparin, warfarin and direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran.

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

1. Receiving anticoagulant treatment or has been treated with anticoagulants in the last seven days.
2. The underlying reasons for anticoagulant treatment requires deferral.

Discretionary

If prescribed for treatment of venous thromboembolism:

• See Thrombosis and thrombophilia

Otherwise, if treatment was completed more than seven days ago and:

1. the reason for treatment does not preclude donation, and
2. the donor is not under investigation, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Cardiovascular disease
• Clopidogrel
• Drug index - drugs and platelet donation
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including aspirin)
• Superficial thrombophlebitis
• Thrombosis and thrombophilia

Additional information

There are many reasons that someone might be treated with an anticoagulant drug. It is important that the underlying indication for treatment is included in the assessment of the donor’s eligibility to donate.

While on anticoagulant treatment, it is more likely that a donor will bleed or bruise after donation. The effect of treatment wears off over some days. After seven days the blood clotting mechanisms should be back to normal.

Donors taking antiplatelet medication such as aspirin or clopidogrel should be assessed using the relevant entries for their medication and the underlying reason for treatment.

Reason for change:

The scope of the entry has been clarified, with addition of a definition for anticoagulant medication. Additional links have been added to the See if Relevant section.

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 68 (09 May 2023)