IBTS introduces additional restrictions to reduce vCJD risk
IBTS introduces additional restrictions to reduce vCJD risk
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service today (Sunday) announced additional restrictions on blood donation to reduce further the risk of vCJD being transmitted by blood transfusion. The IBTS continues to monitor the situation and has decided that from tomorrow (Monday 1st November 2004) the IBTS will no longer accept blood donations from the following:
People who have spent one year or more in total in the UK between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996
People who have had certain operations in the UK on or after 1 January 1980. This includes neurosurgery, eye surgery, appendectomy, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, splenectomy and lymph node biopsy.
Since the possibility of transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion first emerged, the IBTS have taken a number of precautionary steps including:
From November 1999 the removal of most of the white cells from blood (white cells and plasma are considered by experts to be potential sources of infection).
From April 2001, people who had spent 5 years or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were excluded from donating blood.
The exclusion of people who had previously received blood transfusions outside Ireland.
The importation of plasma products from BSE free areas to further decrease the risk of transmission.
The issuing of guidance to all doctors in January 2001, setting out best practice for blood usage in surgical patients.
From May 2004, people who had spent 3 years or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were excluded from donating as were people who had received blood transfusions in the Republic of Ireland (other than autologous transfusions) on or after 1 January 1980.
Dr William Murphy, National Medical Director said: " we are introducing this additional restriction to further reduce the threat of transmission of vCJD through blood transfusion. This new restriction means that fewer people will be able to give blood and will result in the loss of about 4,000 donors. However, we will still need to collect 3,000 donations per week to ensure that we can supply hospitals with the blood necessary for patient care. So we need to find 4,000 new donors and we need existing donors to give blood regularly."
He urged anyone who had not donated before or who had not donated recently to become a blood donor, if they fulfil the acceptance criteria. "Without a commitment to blood donation from the community, modern healthcare just cant happen. It is not up to someone else to do it, it is up to you, and to everyone who can."
Chief Executive Andrew Kelly said: "we realise by introducing these measures we will lose some of our most loyal donors. We would like to thank them for the difference they have made to so many lives. We would ask that they encourage others to take their place and become committed regular donors."
ENDS
Note for Editors
- The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is responsible for collecting, processing, testing and issuing blood in Ireland.
- The IBTS needs to collect about 160,000 donations of blood every year, that is about 3,000 donations a week
- Giving blood saves lives, yet only 5% of the eligible population give blood.
- One in four people will need a transfusion at sometime in their lives
- Between 1-2% of the population need a blood transfusion every year
