Tissue and Organ Recipients

All donors:
Must not donate if:

1. At any time:
a) Has needed immunosuppression.

b) Dura mater transplanted.

c) Ocular tissue transplanted.

d) Xenotransplant performed.

2. Since January 1st 1980:
Any allogeneic human tissue or organ transplanted.

a) If an allogeneic tissue or cell transplant was performed before January 1st 1980 and there is no other reason to exclude the donor, accept.

b) If at anytime an autologous tissue tissue, or cells, has been transplanted, accept.

c) For donations of heart valves, skin, ocular tissue and pancreatic islets: If at anytime a allogeneic tissue,or cells, has been transplanted, accept
 

Immunosuppression
Ocular Tissue Recipient
Prion Associated Diseases
Xenotransplantation

The transfer of tissues or organs between individuals and species has lead to the spread of infection. The above guidelines are intended to minimize these risks.

There is now a concern that this could also happen with vCJD. This is because in the autumn of 2003 a UK recipient of blood, taken from a healthy donor who later developed vCJD, died from vCJD. Since then there has been a very small number of cases of infection with the vCJD prion in recipients of blood from donors who have later developed vCJD.  In view of this, people who have received a tissue or organ transplant since 1980, will be excluded from donation except for donation of heart valves, ocular tissue, pancreatic islets and skin. These tissues provide considerable benefits to patients.

Transfusion

To update discretionary entry to accept skin, heart valve, ocular tissue and pancreatic islets from those who might have received allogeneic tissue transplant.