Thrush - Whole Blood and Components

Also known as: candida, candidiasis, moniliasis, yeast

Scenarios

Oral thrush
Includes
Excludes
Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. Unexplained.
  2. Related to immunosuppression.
  3. Less than seven days after completion of any treatment.
Additional information

Oral thrush is uncommon, unless there is an underlying illness, or there has been recent treatment with antibiotics. It may also be a problem in people using steroid inhalers or antiseptic mouthwashes.

If the infection returns quickly after stopping treatment, this is very suggestive of underlying immunosuppression. The individual should not be accepted unless they have been properly investigated and an underlying immunodeficiency has been excluded. This is why we require any treatment to have been stopped for at least seven days.

Genitoanal thrush
Includes
Excludes
Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. Related to immunosuppression.
  2. Less than seven days after receiving systemic (oral) therapy.
Discretionary

If not related to immunodeficiency, even if using local therapy, accept.

Additional information

Vaginal thrush is common and is not usually a sign of a more serious problem. Penile thrush is less common and is usually a problem in uncircumcised men. Both types of thrush can affect the whole of the perineal area including the anus. The yeast that causes thrush is usually present on everybody's skin so it should not normally be considered as a sexually transmitted infection.

If the infection requires systemic (oral) treatment, and returns quickly after stopping this treatment, it is suggestive of underlying immunosuppression. The individual should not be accepted unless they have been properly investigated and an underlying immunodeficiency has been excluded. This is why we require any systemic treatment to have been stopped for at least seven days.

Reason for change:
Link updated from 'Immunosuppression' to 'Immunodeficiency' in the 'See if Relevant' section.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 73 (07 October 2024)