Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Whole Blood and Components

Also known as: NSAIDs

Essential information

Excludes

Topical preparations

Obligatory

Assess the reason for treatment and see if there is a relevant entry.

1. Must not donate if:
   Taken for a serious long-term illness including cardiovascular disease.
   
   
2. Platelets:
   If the donor has taken an NSAID drug in the 48 hours before attending, their donation must not be used for the preparation of platelets and other blood components intended to treat thrombocytopenia and/or platelet dysfunction.

Discretionary

If medication is self-prescribed, the donation will not be used to prepare platelets and other blood components intended to treat thrombocytopenia and/or platelet dysfunction, and the donor meets all other criteria, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Cardiovascular disease
• Drug Index - Drugs and platelet donation

Additional information

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can stop platelets (small fragments of cells that help control bleeding) from working properly. Platelets may be manufactured from whole blood or component (apheresis) donations. Blood Services may produce other components that included functional platelets, including some forms of whole blood. As these are used to control or prevent bleeding in patients, it is essential that they do not include platelets affected by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Taking these drugs will not affect the use of a donation for red cell transfusion (the commonest use) but the reason they are being taken might.

Topical treatment with NSAIDs includes creams and gels. These forms of medication are unlikely to have a significant effect on platelet function.

Reason for change:

An exclusion for topical preparations has been added.

Version details:

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