Blood Safety Information

Help us keep the blood supply safe for patients by reading this information before you donate.

All donations are tested for infections that could be passed on by blood or platelet transfusions. Early stage infection may not always show up on testing. This is why you must never donate for a blood test to see if you are infected. If you donate to see if you are infected you are putting patients’ lives at risk. 

We rely on our donors to answer the questions we ask honestly and accurately to the best of their knowledge, as this is essential for the safety of the patients who receive blood. We ask that you please do so.  All information you provide is confidential.

You must NEVER donate if:

  • You think you need a test for HIV or hepatitis. (You can get a test from your GP or a sexual health clinic)
  • You think your partner needs a test for HIV or hepatitis
  • You or your partner have HIV or are receiving treatment for HIV
  • You or your partner have HTLV
  • You, your partner or close household contacts have hepatitis B or C*
  • You have ever had or been treated for Syphilis or Gonorrhoea
  • You have ever received money or drugs for sex
  • You have ever injected, or have been injected with non-prescribed drugs; even once or a long time ago. This includes body building drugs, injectable tanning agents and injected chemsex drugs.

You must NOT donate for at least 4 months after you last had oral, vaginal, or anal sex with:

  • Anyone who has or you think may have:
    • HIV
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C*
    • HTLV
    • Syphilis
  • Anyone who has ever been given money or drugs for sex
  • Anyone who has ever injected or who has been injected with non-prescribed drugs, even once or a long time ago. This includes body-building drugs, injectable tanning agents and injected chemsex drugs.

*There are exceptions so please ask.

You must NOT donate for at least 4 months after:

  • You had a new sexual partner** and had anal sex
  • You had sex with more than one partner and had anal sex

**A new sexual partner is someone you have not had sex with before or a person with whom you resumed a previous sexual relationship in the past 4 months.

You must NOT donate for at least 4 months after:

  • You snorted cocaine or any other drug
  • You have taken medication to prevent HIV infection (pre /post exposure prophylaxis, PrEP/ PEP)
  • You have taken part in Chemsex i.e. have used drugs (other than cannabis, alcohol, Viagra or other medication for erectile dysfunction) before or during sex to enhance sexual experience.NB IF you were injected or injected yourself with drugs during Chemsex even once or a long time ago you will never be able to donate
  • Chemsex is a type of sexual activity where people take certain drugs to enhance their sexual experiences, and let them have sex for longer or with more people. Drugs associated with chemsex include methamphetamine, mephedrone, GHB and other drugs.

More information about Individual Donor Risk Assessment (IDRA) is available in the New Questions leaflet, please ask a staff member.