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# Hepatitis A - Whole blood and components

### Scenarios

Affected individual

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  - less than 6 months from recovery of symptoms, and
  - less than 6 months since the donor was diagnosed with hepatitis A infection following laboratory testing.
See if relevant
  - Travel

Current or former sexual partner of an affected individual

Obligatory

  Must not donate if less than 6 months:

  - Since a current sexual partner has recovered from symptoms of hepatitis A, or
  - Since a current sexual partner tested positive for hepatitis A RNA, or
  - Since last sexual contact with a former sexual partner who had hepatitis A.

Person currently or formerly sharing a home with an affected individual

Obligatory

  Must not donate if less than 6 months:

  - From recovery of the last affected person in the home, or
  - Since a person sharing a home tested positive for hepatitis A RNA.

Immunisation

Obligatory

  Known exposure:

  Must not donate.

Discretionary

  No known exposure:

  If it is more than 14 days from the date of the most recent dose of vaccine, accept.

  Known exposure:

  If more than 6 months after the last known contact with the affected individual, accept.

See if relevant
  - Hepatitis B (immunisation)
  - Travel

## Supporting information

Additional information

  Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver, usually spread by the faecal-oral route or by sewage-contaminated food and water. It is rare in the UK with most cases occurring in people returning from travel to endemic countries. Household contacts of cases are at risk of infection. It can also be spread sexually. Transfusion-transmitted infection is known to occur.

  Hepatitis A usually presents with malaise, fever and abdominal symptoms followed by the onset of jaundice, although some individuals may be asymptomatic. Most people recover after a few weeks but in a small number of cases, infection can lead to more severe liver disease and death. Hepatitis A does not cause long-term infection. People who have recovered from hepatitis A have life-long immunity.

  Blood services may screen for hepatitis A infection using a test for hepatitis A virus RNA. Donors who are diagnosed with hepatitis A infection following blood donation screening or as part of an outbreak investigation must be deferred for 6 months, even if they do not have any symptoms of the disease. After 6 months, they can return to donate without further testing.

  Hepatitis A immunisation is often given before travel to parts of the world which also have a risk of infections such as malaria or tropical viruses. The donor's travel history should be checked if they have had hepatitis A vaccine.

  Sensitive assays for Hepatitis A may be reactive following recent immunisation against HAV. A reactive result can lead to the donation being wasted, unnecessary tests and the need to contact the donor

  Hepatitis A immunisation is sometimes given in combination with hepatitis B immunisation. Refer to the Hepatitis B entry if necessary.

Reason for change:
  The deferral after HAV immunisation has been increased.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 78 (28 August 2025)

BETA

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