Tetanus - Whole Blood and Components

Affected individual

Includes
Excludes
Obligatory: If treated with immunoglobulin:
See Immunoglobulin therapy.
Must not donate if:
Not fully recovered
Discretionary: If fully recovered and is acceptable according to immunoglobulin therapy advice, accept.
See if relevant: Wounds, mouth and skin ulcers
Additional information: Tetanus is a severe illness and usually requires treatment with high dose immunoglobulin. This may exclude the individual from donation.

Immunisation

Includes
Excludes
Obligatory: Must not donate if:
Less than four weeks from exposure to a tetanus risk injury or receipt of passive immunisation with tetanus immunoglobulin.
Discretionary: If not exposed i.e. prophylactic tetanus toxoid Immunisation only or a tetanus toxoid booster, accept.
If treated with single dose anti-tetanus immunoglobulin (intra muscular) and more than four weeks from exposure, accept.
See if relevant: Immunoglobulin therapy
Wounds, mouth and skin ulcers
Additional information: Active or passive immunisation may mask infection. It is important to wait four weeks to ensure that the potential donor is not infected.