CJD
Further measures to reduce the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) via blood transfusion has led to additional groups being excluded from donating blood in the future. The decision follows advice from the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissue (MSBT).
Two groups who have received transfusions since January 1980 will be added to those excluded from giving blood in the future. The first will be donors who are unsure if they have previously had a blood transfusion. The second will be apheresis donors who have previously had a blood transfusion.
Apheresis donors are a small pool of committed donors who frequently go to centres to donate blood, where machine processing removes only certain blood components and the rest is returned to the donor.
Following the decision to exclude recipients of blood transfusions in April this year, neither of these groups were excluded until it was clear about the potential impact on the blood supply. However, it is now apparent that the impact on blood supplies is small and the MSBT has recommended that these groups be excluded as a result. The exclusion will come into effect 2 August 2004.
"We are continuing to follow a highly precautionary approach. Although people may have concerns about the implications of this announcement, I would emphasise again that the exclusion criteria are being tightened because of a small but unquantifiable risk," said Secretary of State for Health, John Reid.
"People who can, should continue to give blood. Blood donation is a safe procedure and people should continue to donate blood regularly," he added.
