UK Donor Selection Guidelines on Blood and Tissue Donations and Malaria
These guidelines apply for the NHS Blood and Transplant (England), the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and the Welsh Blood Service.
Obligatory donation exclusion
Must not donate if:
- The donor has ever had malaria.
- The donor has had an undiagnosed fever (which could have been malaria) while abroad or within 6 months of leaving a malaria endemic area.
- The donor has lived in any malaria endemic area for a continuous period of 6 months or more at any time of life.
- Less than 12 months since leaving a malaria endemic area.
Discretionary donation exclusion
Donors who have had malaria diagnosed:
- If more than 3 years have passed since anti-malarial therapy has been completed and symptoms caused by malaria have resolved; a validated test for malaria antibodies should be performed. If this is negative, donation may be accepted.
For other donors:
- If at least 6 months have passed since the last date of potential exposure to malaria, or the date of recovery from symptoms that may have been caused by malaria - donations can be accepted following a negative result from a validated test for malaria.
Additional information
- Cases of transfusion transmitted malaria have occurred many years after the donor was last at risk of becoming infected with malaria. This is mainly a problem in people who have had repeated episodes of malaria infection. This is uncommon but it is safer to test for malaria antibodies rather than to wait a specific length of time before allowing an individual who has had or may have had malaria to donate.
- These guidelines comply with The Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.
- See fitfortravel country records for malaria risk areas.