Blood transfusion

A blood transfusion given elsewhere than in the British Isles, Central or South America or Africa prevents blood donation for at least four months. If you have had a blood transfusion in the British Isles, this prevents blood donation permanently (risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease which is the human form of BSE or ‘mad cow disease’). Also, a blood transfusion given in Central or South America or Africa prevents blood donation permanently because of the risk of tropical diseases (trypanosomiasis infections in particular).

Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on 0800 0 5801 (Mon to Fri from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).