Written question asked by Tim J Smith (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 December 1996. It was answered by Lord Horam (Conservative) on Wednesday, 4 December 1996 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: If he will comment on the transmission of CJD via blood donation. - Including ref to 275 c46W.

Answer: Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the transmission of CJD via blood donation. [7681] Mr. Horam: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stockton (Mr. Cook) on 1 April at column 46. Further to this reply to the hon. Member for Stockton, I would like to clarify of my statement that "as precautionary measure, individuals with central nervous system diseases or risk factors for CJD, including a family history are excluded from giving blood" Instructions came into force nationally on 1 August providing that all blood donors must be directly asked about any family history of CJD. Until then, under national blood service guidelines potential donors would have been told not to give blood if they mentioned a family history of CJD, but they may not specifically have been asked the question. All potential blood donors should now be directly questioned about any family history of CJD, as well as about their own health, and any people found to have risk factors in their own personal health history or with a family history of CJD are excluded from giving blood. I should emphasise that these remain only precautionary measures, as there is no evidence of any risk of transmission of CJD through blood or blood products.

Secondary information