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

Endoscopy

Obligatory

Must not donate if:
Less than six months from an examination with a flexible endoscope.

Discretionary

a) If the examination has been carried out with a rigid endoscope (e.g. colposcopies and most arthroscopies and proctoscopies), the donor is well and not waiting for further tests or results, accept.

b) If after four months a validated list for hepatitis B core antibody is negative, accept.

See if Relevant

Malignancy
Surgery

Additional Information

Flexible endoscopes can be difficult to disinfect. There have been cases where infection has been passed from person to person by examination and biopsy using this type of instrument.

This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for hepatitis C is negative. If this test is stopped, the guidance will change.

A colposcope is an instrument used to view more easily the neck of the womb (cervix). It is not a flexible endoscope so in itself is not a reason for deferral. Care should be taken to ensure that donor is well and not waiting for further tests or results.

The procedure of ‘Virtual endoscopy’ is a radiographic technique that does not involve the use of an endoscope just a disposable tube it is not in itself a reason for deferral.

Information

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

Reason for change

The 'Discretionary' entry and 'Additional Information' have been modified. A link has been added to 'Malignancy'.

Donor Information

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Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 01.