Acupuncture - Whole blood and components

Essential information

Definition/s

Acupuncture is a specific complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment, involving the insertion of fine needles into the skin.

A Qualified Health Care Professional (HCP) is someone who is registered with one of the statutory bodies listed in the Complementary and alternative medicine entry.

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. The condition for which treatment was given is not acceptable, or
  2. It is less than 4 months from acupuncture treatment

If the donor has received any other CAM or cosmetic/beauty treatment:

Discretionary

If the donor’s underlying condition does not preclude donation and the acupuncture treatment was:

  • Performed within the NHS, or
  • Performed by a Qualified Health Care Professional (HCP), or
  • Performed in one of the four UK nations by a practitioner acting in accordance with the legislation applying to licensing/registration in that nation,
    AND
  • Acupuncture was performed with sterile single-use needles, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

For a list of Qualified HCPs, see Complementary and alternative medicine

Additional information

Acupuncture involves a risk that infection could be transferred between or introduced to patients if unsterile needles are used. It is important that an acupuncturist adheres to safe practices, including the use of sterile single-use needles for all patients.

Acupuncturists who are Qualified HCPs are subject to discipline from statutorily constituted professional authorities. They will have received training in infection control where this is relevant to their work and are expected to follow safe practices at all times. They should not be working outside the scope of practice for which they have received training.

Each of the four UK nations has registration and licensing requirements for acupuncture providers. For non-HCP practitioners, donors can be accepted if acupuncture was provided in an appropriately licensed/approved setting by a practitioner who is fully compliant with any licensing/registration requirements in force within their area of operation. Donor services staff do not have to confirm the licensing or registration status of a practitioner or premises. The donor should be asked to confirm that single-use needles were used and that they are satisfied that their practitioner was working in compliance with local registration and licensing requirements. If there is doubt about the status of an acupuncture service, the donor should be deferred for 4 months.

Further information can be found in the JPAC position statement ‘Eligibility of blood donors undergoing acupuncture’.

Regulatory information

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

Reason for change:
This is a new entry.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 81 (11 August 2026)