Prion-associated diseases - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Includes

Familial, sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), Gerstmann-Strãussler-Scheinker disease and fatal familial insomnia.

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. Diagnosed with any form of CJD, or other human prion disease.
  2. Identified at increased risk of developing a prion associated disorder. This includes:
    1. Individuals at familial risk of prion-associated diseases (have had two or more blood relatives develop a prion-associated disease or have been informed following genetic counselling they are at risk).
    2. Individuals who have been told that they have been put at increased risk from surgery, transfusion or transplant of tissues or organs.
    3. Individuals who have been told that they may be at increased risk because a recipient of their blood or tissues has developed a prion related disorder.
    4. Recipients of dura mater grafts.
    5. Recipients of corneal, scleral or other ocular tissue grafts.
    6. Recipients of human pituitary derived extracts.
    7. Since January 1st 1980:
      Recipients of a transfusion or allogeneic human tissue (except recipients of donated human eggs, sperm or embryos).
Discretionary

If the donor has had two or more blood relatives develop a prion-associated disease and, following genetic counselling, they have been informed that they are not at risk, accept.

This requires confirmation by a Designated Clinical Support Officer.

Supporting information

See if relevant
Additional information

A JPAC Position Statement on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is available.

The use of human gonadotrophin and growth hormone of pituitary origin had stopped in the UK by 1986. Dura mater use stopped in the UK by 1993. The situation in other countries varied so specific dates cannot be given.

Recipients of donated human eggs, sperm or embryos can be accepted to donate, provided they meet the other criteria outlined in the ‘Trying to Conceive’ entry.

Reason for change:
The deferral for recipients of donated eggs or embryos has been removed in line with the most recent update of the SaBTO Microbiological Safety Guidelines.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 61 (22 February 2022)