Asthma - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

1. Asthma is symptomatic.
2. Taking, or has completed, a course of oral or injected steroids lasting more than 3 weeks within the last six months.
3. The donor has needed long term (six months or more) treatment with oral or injected steroids within the last 12 months.
4. The donor has taken a short course (less than three weeks) of oral or injected steroids in the last seven days.
5. The donor has been treated with monoclonal antibodies, or other biological modalities, in the last six months.

Discretionary

If 2, 3 or 4 above do not apply and the potential donor is asymptomatic at the time of

donation, even if taking regular preventive treatment, including inhaled steroids, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Infection, general
• Monoclonal antibody therapy or other biological modalities
• Steroid therapy

Additional information

Taking blood from a person with symptomatic asthma will lower the amount of oxygen the blood can carry and could make their symptoms worse.

Steroid therapy can hide the signs and symptoms of infection. Blood from an infected donor can be dangerous to the person receiving it.

Reason for change:

Guidance has been added for donors treated with monoclonal antibodies and other biological modalities.

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 71 (02 May 2024)