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# Blood pressure, high - Whole blood and components

Also known as: hypertension

## Essential information

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. The cause of hypertension is under investigation.
  2. Anti-hypertensive medication has been altered in the last 4 weeks.
  3. Is having problems with feeling faint, fainting or giddiness.
  4. Has suffered from heart failure.
  5. Has renal impairment requiring dialysis, the use of erythropoietin or similar drugs, or is either under active investigation or continued follow-up for renal impairment.
  6. Has required surgery for a blocked or narrowed artery including any type of amputation.
  7. Has or has had gangrene.
Discretionary
  1. If the donor is being regularly assessed for high blood pressure but treatment has not been commenced, accept.
  2. If the donor is taking medication for raised blood pressure and neither the type nor the dose has been changed in the last 4 weeks and they are otherwise well, accept.
  3. If gangrene was not related to diabetes or peripheral vascular disease (e.g. it was due to hypothermia or meningococcal meningitis) and all wounds are fully healed, even if amputation was required, accept.

## Supporting information

See if relevant
  - Cardiovascular disease
  - Cerebrovascular disease and intracranial haemorrhage
  - Diabetes mellitus
  - Kidney and bladder disease
Additional information

  The rationale for not accepting donors on medication, other than beta blockers or diuretics, for the treatment of hypertension was reviewed by the Standing Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Donors (SACCSD) in 2008. It was decided that available data did not support the deferral of all individuals with controlled hypertension taking other medications.

  In the UK, about 1 in 20 individuals has hypertension. Most people with hypertension are in good health and are fit to donate blood.

  It is however important that complications due to raised blood pressure are carefully assessed and, where necessary, donors are excluded from donating (e.g. those with heart failure or damage to their kidneys, or those experiencing hypotensive side effects from their medication).

Reason for change:
  Link updated from 'Central Nervous System Disease' to 'Cerebrovascular Disease and Intracranial Haemorrhage' in the 'See if Relevant' section.
Version details:

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

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