Reminder: You are viewing our sharing site. Content may differ from our live site.
Skip to main content

# Non-consented exposure to human body fluids - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Definition/s

  Non-consented exposure to human body fluids:

  A non-consented injury or assault in which an individual is exposed to potentially infective material that could be transferred through donation. The causes may range from a sharps injury to bites, punches and abrasions, or sexual assault where mucous membranes have been contaminated with human blood or other body fluids. It also applies to any inoculation injury with abnormal prions from any species.

### Scenarios

Affected individual

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. The incident involved any material containing abnormal prions.
  2. Less than 4 months after the date of an inoculation injury or contamination of mucosa or non-intact skin with human blood or body fluids.
  3. Under ongoing investigations following exposure.
See if relevant
  - Animal bite, non-human
  - Blood safety
  - Hepatitis
  - HIV
  - HTLV
  - Prion-associated diseases
  - Xenotransplantation
Additional information

  Prion-related diseases can be symptom free for many years. During the incubation stage, infection may be passed on by donated material.

  Human blood or body fluids may be contaminated with infective material that may be passed on by donated material. Waiting 4 months (if a validated test for HBV, HCV, HIV NAT is negative) helps to ensure that any infection is not passed on. This includes donors where the contact has hepatitis B infection or is a recipient of blood derived coagulation factor concentrates.

  If an individual is undergoing further tests or follow up following an exposure, donation should be deferred until all follow up is complete and above criteria apply.

  This guidance presumes that a validated NAT test for hepatitis C is negative; if this test is stopped, the guidance will change.

Current or former sexual partner of an affected individual

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  The donor's sexual partner is being monitored for evidence of transmitted infection following exposure to a known infected individual.

Discretionary
  1. If the partner has not been exposed to known infective material, accept.
  2. If the partner was exposed to known infective material and has been told that they are not infected and no longer require to be monitored, accept.
  3. If a former sexual partner and it is more than 3 months since the last sexual contact, accept.
See if relevant
  - Hepatitis
  - HIV
  - HTLV
  - Prion-associated diseases

## Supporting information

Regulatory information

  Part of this entry is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change:
  The wording of this entry has been revised to improve clarity.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 57 (26 May 2021)

BETA

This website recently launched. Help us improve it by giving your feedback (opens in new tab)