Endoscopy - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Excludes

Colposcopy - see Cervical dysplasia

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

Less than four months from a procedure involving a flexible endoscope.

Discretionary

If the procedure involved a rigid endoscope and the donor is:

• well, and
• not waiting for further tests or results, and
• the diagnosis does not preclude donation,

accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Malignancy
• Surgery

Additional information

For the purposes of donor selection:

• Any endoscopic procedures performed through a surgical incision (e.g. arthroscopy) can be considered a rigid endoscopy.
• Proctoscopy (also called rigid sigmoidoscopy) involves the use of a rigid endoscope.
• Any endoscopy performed outside of the UK and ROI should also be assessed using the Surgery entry.

Flexible endoscopes can be difficult to disinfect. There have been cases where infection has been passed from person to person by examination and biopsy using this type of instrument. This excludes disposable flexible equipment that may be used through a rigid endoscope e.g. to obtain biopsies.

This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for hepatitis C is negative. If this test is stopped, the guidance will change.

The procedure of ‘Virtual endoscopy’ is a radiographic technique that does not involve the use of an endoscope just a disposable tube; it is not in itself a reason for deferral.

Reason for change:

Clarification of rigid and flexible endoscopy, and the risk in the UK and ROI. Removal of reference to colposcopy, referring user to the appropriate entry for guidance. Change to refer to endoscopy as a procedure rather than an examination. Inclusion of associated considerations for donor selection.

Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 76 (30 April 2025)