Impaired renal function - Whole blood and components

Essential information

Includes

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney failure, renal failure

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. Has renal impairment requiring dialysis
  2. Has had a kidney transplant
  3. Has or has ever had anaemia due to their renal condition
  4. Has hypertension and/or any other cardiovascular disease
  5. Has proteinuria or albuminuria
  6. Is under or awaiting investigation or results
  7. Is under follow-up by a specialist
  8. Requires any preventative treatment due to their kidney disease (e.g. cholesterol-lowering treatment, antiplatelet therapy)
Discretionary

If the donor is well and:

  1. Does not require dialysis, and
  2. Has not had a kidney transplant, and
  3. Has never had anaemia due to their renal condition, and
  4. Does not have hypertension or any other cardiovascular disease, and
  5. Does not have proteinuria or albuminuria, and
  6. Is not under or awaiting investigation or results, and
  7. Is under GP monitoring only, and
  8. Does not require any preventative treatment related to their kidney disease, accept.

Supporting information

Additional information

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10% of the world’s population. Screening is recommended for individuals with risk factors, the most common of which are diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and a family history of renal failure.

Other causes include cystic disorders of the kidney (polycystic kidney disease), obstructive uropathy, heat stress nephropathy, and glomerular nephrotic and nephritic syndromes such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, lupus nephritis, amyloidosis, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Hypertension can be a consequence as well as a cause of CKD.

Alongside encouragement of lifestyle changes (physical exercise, achieving a healthy weight, smoking cessation) and blood pressure and glucose control, management of CKD includes treatments to reduce the risk of worsening renal impairment and/or development of complications. This can involve lipid management, dietary management, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, kidney protective agents including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, non-steroidal selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and endothelin receptor antagonists, as well as other treatments for the underlying cause of CKD.

Blood donation is not advised in individuals with CKD on any type of active or preventative treatment.

If cholesterol-lowering medication (e.g. a statin) is being taken for another reason, then donation can be considered.

Individuals with CKD are referred to renal specialists if there is concern regarding the rate or degree of deterioration of renal function.

By the time CKD has caused kidney function to decline to 15–20% of normal, individuals will usually be receiving advanced kidney care from a multidisciplinary team at a renal low clearance clinic, with the intention of slowing any further progression but also planning for possible dialysis or transplantation.

Once graded as CKD stage 3 or above, renal function is at least moderately impaired and may be associated with reduction in erythropoietin and consequent development of anaemia.

Blood donation is therefore not advisable due to the higher risk of precipitating or exacerbating anaemia.

Individuals with only one (solitary) kidney due to congenital absence of a second kidney (renal agenesis) or surgical removal of a kidney, or who have a single-functioning kidney (renal dysplasia), may be accepted if they have normal renal function: the one kidney will often grow in size and function to compensate They may be under monitoring, but impaired renal function and chronic kidney disease develop in only a small number of people. Renal agenesis can be associated with other congenital abnormalities, including heart defects, so care should be taken to ensure that donors are eligible according to the criteria specific to their renal condition, but also regarding any other associated conditions or complications. The reason for removal of a kidney should be ascertained as this may affect eligibility.

For donors who have donated a kidney, see Surgery.

Reason for change:
New entry incorporating ‘kidney failure’ section of the former ‘Kidney and bladder disease’ entry. Guidance relevant for donors with chronic kidney disease has been added. The ‘Additional information’ has been expanded, including information to support assessment of donors with one kidney.
Version details:

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