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

Hepatitis of Unknown Cause

1. Person with Hepatitis of Unknown Cause
Obligatory

Must not donate.

2. Person with previous (recovered) Hepatitis of Unknown Cause
Obligatory

Must not donate if:

Less than 24 months from recovery.

Discretionary

a) If more than 12 months and less than 24 months from recovery, and either all markers i.e. HbsAg, HBV DNA if carried out and HB core antibody (anti-HBs is not required) are negative, or HB core antibody positive, HBsAg negative, screening HBV DNA (if carried out) negative and anti-HBs has been documented at more than 100 iu/l at some time, accept.

b) If more than 24 months from recovery, accept.

 

See if Relevant

Travel

Additional Information

Most hepatitis of unknown origin will have been due to hepatitis A or hepatitis E (or non-viral causes). Additional testing for those who give a history of hepatitis between 12 and 24 months before donation will exclude the rare case of HBV which may have delayed clearance of infection and therefore will still present a risk through donation.

Reason for change

Clarification has been added regarding testing required to accept between 12 and 24 months from recovery

3. Current or Former Sexual Partner of person with Hepatitis of Unknown Cause
Obligatory

Must not donate if:
Less than 12 months from recovery of current sexual partner, or from last sexual contact if a former sexual partner.

Additional Information

The 12 month deferral period is to avoid transmission of any infection through transfusion

Reason for change

'Additional Information' has been added. The title has been clarified to include both current and former sexual partners.

4. Person Currently or Formerly Sharing a Home with a person with Hepatitis of Unknown Cause
Obligatory

Must not donate if:
Less than 12 months from recovery of the last affected person in the home, or from the last contact if no longer sharing.

 

Additional Information

The 12 month deferral period is to avoid transmission of any infection through transfusion.

Reason for change

'Additional Information' has been added. The title has been clarified to include donors who formerly shared a home, as well as those who currently share a home with an affected Individual.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

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 27.