Donor haemovigilance hub

Explore practical, evidence-based resources to enhance donor care and safety.

The donor haemovigilance hub shares powerful learning and real-world insights to support continuous improvement. Protecting blood donors is the foundation of a safe, sustainable and reliable blood supply.

Developed in collaboration with Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) – visit the SHOT website

Clinical assessment following donor adverse events

June 2025: Assessing donors with possible arm complications (PDF #KB)
pending: Assessing donors with a possible vasovagal reaction
pending: Assessing donors with a possible allergic reaction

Useful additional resources

June 2025: Post-donation management of blood donors with nerve injury related to donation (PDF #KB)
pending: Management of donors with arterial bleed related to donation

Useful external sites

Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) - please see donor haemovigilance chapters in the Annual SHOT Reports, related resources including mythbusters
Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB): Donor Hemovigilance
International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT): Haemovigilance Tools and resources
International Haemovigilance Network
NOTIFY library

About the donor haemovigilance hub

What are these documents about?

These documents provide guidance for the assessment of donor complications associated with blood donation, aiding in possible diagnosis and promoting consistent, standardised reporting of blood donor adverse events (DAEs). They also support the appropriate management of donors and donations.

Who are these documents intended for?

These documents are intended for healthcare professionals responsible for the clinical assessment of donors experiencing potential adverse events following blood donations. These will not replace the clinical judgement required for the evaluation of donor adverse events.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the working group comprising all four UK Blood Services for their contributions to these documents, as well as the nursing staff from each UK Blood Service for their valuable feedback. We also extend our gratitude to the JPAC (SACCSD) and SHOT offices for their support.

Copyright permission

These documents are the properties of JPAC (SACCSD) and SHOT. Credit should be provided if they are used or copied. For wider circulation, formal permission must be obtained from the JPAC or SHOT office.

Enquiries

Please contact the JPAC office at JPACOffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk for any questions related to these documents. When contacting, please specify that your query pertains to documents on clinical assessment following DAEs.

Review Period

The information provided will be reviewed every three years through an internal process.

SHOT haemovigilance doodles

These doodles are free to download! They can be used for teaching purposes and as email signatures.

Images should be used as they are, without amending, or cropping any of the details or SHOT logo.

Please contact SHOT with any feedback or ideas for future messages at shot@nhsbt.nhs.uk.