JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

2. Current or Former Sexual Partner of Affected Individual

Obligatory

Must not donate if:
Less than three months from the last sexual contact.

See if Relevant

Blood Safety Entry

Additional Information

HIV infection can be spread through sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. It may however not be transmitted for a long time into a relationship. This could be because the infection becomes more active in the infected partner, the uninfected partner acquires another infection or injury to a mucous membrane, or there is a change in the use of, or failure of, barrier contraceptives (condoms etc.). In the early stages of infection the testing used by the Blood Services may not detect the virus allowing it to be passed on by transfusion.

Waiting three months from the last sexual contact will ensure that any infection is picked up by the tests used by the Blood Services.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

See below