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Malaria and West Nile Virus
We sometimes test donors or donations forthese infections, depending on previousmedical or travel history. More information canbe found in our leaflet “Travel information forblood donors”.
Hepatitis E Virus
Hepatitis E is an acute infection that is usuallycaught from eating infected food products. It has become more common in the UK in thepast few years. Some patients require bloodthat has been screened for Hepatitis E virus, so a proportion of all donations are tested forthis infection.
Healthy people will clear Hepatitis E infectionwithin a few weeks. Most people who acquirethe infection have only mild symptoms or nosymptoms at all. It is possible that they coulddonate while the virus is in their bloodstream.
If a donor tests positive for Hepatitis E virus wewill let them know and ask them not to donatefor at least 6 months. They do not require anyadditional blood tests before donating again.
We are required by law to notify HealthProtection Scotland when we diagnose someinfections, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C andHepatitis E.
Additional tests for otherblood-borne infections
Testing for blood-borneinfections
Ref: 05001083Date Published: Jan 2016
If you would like any further advice orinformation about testing, please contactus on 0345 30 17 2 70.
ANY QUESTIONS?
This publication can be made available in large print, braille (English only), audio tape
and different languages. Please [email protected]
for further information.
SNBTS is a part of NHS National Services Scotland.
CONTACT US
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
www.scotblood.co.uk
Donor Care Line0345 30 17 2 70
Email [email protected]
www.facebook.com/givebloodforscotland
@givebloodscot
Public Health
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 1
The testing processRoutine tests
All donations are tested for:
• HIV• Hepatitis B• Hepatitis C• HTLV• Syphilis
These infections can be passed on easily byblood transfusion, so testing is an importantway to keep blood safe for patients.
Our tests are very reliable, but there is anextremely small chance that we could missan infection in its early stages. This is why wealso screen our donors using the questionson the donor health check. By combiningdonor questions with state of the art testingwe can keep our blood supply as safe aspossible.
A small sample of every donation is frozenand kept for at least 30 years. This is donein case we need to carry out additionaltests at a later date.
Samples from each donation are tested usingan automated system. If everything isnegative the donation can be released foruse in patients.
Occasionally a donation will cause a reactionduring the automated testing process. If thishappens, we send samples of the donation toour reference laboratory for more in-depthtesting. This specialised testing will showwhether the reaction is false or whether thedonation carries one of the infections we test for.
Approximately 5 in every 1,000 donationscause a reaction in our initial screening testsbut only a very few of these turn out to betrue infections. The majority are falsereactions.
Donors who test positive
Very rarely we find that a donor has evidenceof a current or previous infection with one ofthe conditions listed earlier. In this situation,we will always inform the donor. We willcontact them, asking them to speak to one of our donor clinical staff, either at their localtransfusion centre or by telephone.
SNBTS clinical staff will give confidentialadvice to any donor who tests positive. They will also make sure that the donor isreferred on to an appropriate clinical servicefor further tests and follow up as required.
False reactions
False reactions sometimes happen after adonor has had a minor illness such as a coldor flu. They can also happen if we update ourtest systems. Because of our safetyprocedures, SNBTS cannot use a donation ifit gives a false reaction. This is the case evenif the donation has been cleared by ourreference laboratory.
If a donor’s blood causes a false reaction wewill write to let them know. The false reactiondoes not mean that there is anything wrongwith their health. There is no need for thedonor to see a doctor or have any furthertests. They will be able to donate again oncethe reaction has cleared. We will check thisby taking samples, rather than a fulldonation, when they next attend a session.
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 2
The testing processRoutine tests
All donations are tested for:
• HIV• Hepatitis B• Hepatitis C• HTLV• Syphilis
These infections can be passed on easily byblood transfusion, so testing is an importantway to keep blood safe for patients.
Our tests are very reliable, but there is anextremely small chance that we could missan infection in its early stages. This is why wealso screen our donors using the questionson the donor health check. By combiningdonor questions with state of the art testingwe can keep our blood supply as safe aspossible.
A small sample of every donation is frozenand kept for at least 30 years. This is donein case we need to carry out additionaltests at a later date.
Samples from each donation are tested usingan automated system. If everything isnegative the donation can be released foruse in patients.
Occasionally a donation will cause a reactionduring the automated testing process. If thishappens, we send samples of the donation toour reference laboratory for more in-depthtesting. This specialised testing will showwhether the reaction is false or whether thedonation carries one of the infections we test for.
Approximately 5 in every 1,000 donationscause a reaction in our initial screening testsbut only a very few of these turn out to betrue infections. The majority are falsereactions.
Donors who test positive
Very rarely we find that a donor has evidenceof a current or previous infection with one ofthe conditions listed earlier. In this situation,we will always inform the donor. We willcontact them, asking them to speak to one of our donor clinical staff, either at their localtransfusion centre or by telephone.
SNBTS clinical staff will give confidentialadvice to any donor who tests positive. They will also make sure that the donor isreferred on to an appropriate clinical servicefor further tests and follow up as required.
False reactions
False reactions sometimes happen after adonor has had a minor illness such as a coldor flu. They can also happen if we update ourtest systems. Because of our safetyprocedures, SNBTS cannot use a donation ifit gives a false reaction. This is the case evenif the donation has been cleared by ourreference laboratory.
If a donor’s blood causes a false reaction wewill write to let them know. The false reactiondoes not mean that there is anything wrongwith their health. There is no need for thedonor to see a doctor or have any furthertests. They will be able to donate again oncethe reaction has cleared. We will check thisby taking samples, rather than a fulldonation, when they next attend a session.
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 2
The testing processRoutine tests
All donations are tested for:
• HIV• Hepatitis B• Hepatitis C• HTLV• Syphilis
These infections can be passed on easily byblood transfusion, so testing is an importantway to keep blood safe for patients.
Our tests are very reliable, but there is anextremely small chance that we could missan infection in its early stages. This is why wealso screen our donors using the questionson the donor health check. By combiningdonor questions with state of the art testingwe can keep our blood supply as safe aspossible.
A small sample of every donation is frozenand kept for at least 30 years. This is donein case we need to carry out additionaltests at a later date.
Samples from each donation are tested usingan automated system. If everything isnegative the donation can be released foruse in patients.
Occasionally a donation will cause a reactionduring the automated testing process. If thishappens, we send samples of the donation toour reference laboratory for more in-depthtesting. This specialised testing will showwhether the reaction is false or whether thedonation carries one of the infections we test for.
Approximately 5 in every 1,000 donationscause a reaction in our initial screening testsbut only a very few of these turn out to betrue infections. The majority are falsereactions.
Donors who test positive
Very rarely we find that a donor has evidenceof a current or previous infection with one ofthe conditions listed earlier. In this situation,we will always inform the donor. We willcontact them, asking them to speak to one of our donor clinical staff, either at their localtransfusion centre or by telephone.
SNBTS clinical staff will give confidentialadvice to any donor who tests positive. They will also make sure that the donor isreferred on to an appropriate clinical servicefor further tests and follow up as required.
False reactions
False reactions sometimes happen after adonor has had a minor illness such as a coldor flu. They can also happen if we update ourtest systems. Because of our safetyprocedures, SNBTS cannot use a donation ifit gives a false reaction. This is the case evenif the donation has been cleared by ourreference laboratory.
If a donor’s blood causes a false reaction wewill write to let them know. The false reactiondoes not mean that there is anything wrongwith their health. There is no need for thedonor to see a doctor or have any furthertests. They will be able to donate again oncethe reaction has cleared. We will check thisby taking samples, rather than a fulldonation, when they next attend a session.
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 2
Malaria and West Nile Virus
We sometimes test donors or donations forthese infections, depending on previousmedical or travel history. More information canbe found in our leaflet “Travel information forblood donors”.
Hepatitis E Virus
Hepatitis E is an acute infection that is usuallycaught from eating infected food products. It has become more common in the UK in thepast few years. Some patients require bloodthat has been screened for Hepatitis E virus, so a proportion of all donations are tested forthis infection.
Healthy people will clear Hepatitis E infectionwithin a few weeks. Most people who acquirethe infection have only mild symptoms or nosymptoms at all. It is possible that they coulddonate while the virus is in their bloodstream.
If a donor tests positive for Hepatitis E virus wewill let them know and ask them not to donatefor at least 6 months. They do not require anyadditional blood tests before donating again.
We are required by law to notify HealthProtection Scotland when we diagnose someinfections, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C andHepatitis E.
Additional tests for otherblood-borne infections
Testing for blood-borneinfections
Ref: 05001083Date Published: Jan 2016
If you would like any further advice orinformation about testing, please contactus on 0345 30 17 2 70.
ANY QUESTIONS?
This publication can be made available in large print, braille (English only), audio tape
and different languages. Please [email protected]
for further information.
SNBTS is a part of NHS National Services Scotland.
CONTACT US
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
www.scotblood.co.uk
Donor Care Line0345 30 17 2 70
Email [email protected]
www.facebook.com/givebloodforscotland
@givebloodscot
Public Health
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 1
Malaria and West Nile Virus
We sometimes test donors or donations forthese infections, depending on previousmedical or travel history. More information canbe found in our leaflet “Travel information forblood donors”.
Hepatitis E Virus
Hepatitis E is an acute infection that is usuallycaught from eating infected food products. It has become more common in the UK in thepast few years. Some patients require bloodthat has been screened for Hepatitis E virus, so a proportion of all donations are tested forthis infection.
Healthy people will clear Hepatitis E infectionwithin a few weeks. Most people who acquirethe infection have only mild symptoms or nosymptoms at all. It is possible that they coulddonate while the virus is in their bloodstream.
If a donor tests positive for Hepatitis E virus wewill let them know and ask them not to donatefor at least 6 months. They do not require anyadditional blood tests before donating again.
We are required by law to notify HealthProtection Scotland when we diagnose someinfections, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C andHepatitis E.
Additional tests for otherblood-borne infections
Testing for blood-borneinfections
Ref: 05001083Date Published: Jan 2016
If you would like any further advice orinformation about testing, please contactus on 0345 30 17 2 70.
ANY QUESTIONS?
This publication can be made available in large print, braille (English only), audio tape
and different languages. Please [email protected]
for further information.
SNBTS is a part of NHS National Services Scotland.
CONTACT US
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
www.scotblood.co.uk
Donor Care Line0345 30 17 2 70
Email [email protected]
www.facebook.com/givebloodforscotland
@givebloodscot
Public Health
AW-testing for blood borne infections_Leaf_2016:_ 22/01/2016 14:35 Page 1
