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# Thrush - Whole blood and components

Also known as: candida, candidiasis, moniliasis, yeast

### Scenarios

Oral thrush

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. Unexplained.
  2. Related to immunosuppression.
  3. Less than 7 days after completion of any treatment.
See if relevant
  - Antibiotic therapy
  - Asthma
  - Immunodeficiency
Additional information

  Oral thrush is uncommon, unless there is an underlying illness, or there has been recent treatment with antibiotics. It may also be a problem in people using steroid inhalers or antiseptic mouthwashes.

  If the infection returns quickly after stopping treatment, this is very suggestive of underlying immunosuppression. The individual should not be accepted unless they have been properly investigated and an underlying immunodeficiency has been excluded. This is why we require any treatment to have been stopped for at least 7 days.

Genitoanal thrush

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. Related to immunosuppression.
  2. Less than 7 days after receiving systemic (oral) therapy.
Discretionary

  If not related to immunodeficiency, even if using local therapy, accept.

See if relevant
  - Antibiotic therapy
  - Immunodeficiency
Additional information

  Vaginal thrush is common and is not usually a sign of a more serious problem. Penile thrush is less common and is usually a problem in uncircumcised men. Both types of thrush can affect the whole of the perineal area including the anus. The yeast that causes thrush is usually present on everybody’s skin so it should not normally be considered as a sexually transmitted infection.

  If the infection requires systemic (oral) treatment, and returns quickly after stopping this treatment, it is suggestive of underlying immunosuppression. The individual should not be accepted unless they have been properly investigated and an underlying immunodeficiency has been excluded. This is why we require any systemic treatment to have been stopped for at least 7 days.

Reason for change:
  Link updated from 'Immunosuppression' to 'Immunodeficiency' in the 'See if Relevant' section.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 73 (07 October 2024)

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