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Dept of Health

Answer

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives to the National Blood Service on the questions which may be asked of potential blood donors; and if he will make a statement. [144861] Miss Melanie Johnson: The National Blood Authority (NBA) undertakes a rigorous selection of blood donors as the first step in ensuring the safety of the blood supply. The questionnaire and accompanying interview of potential blood donors have been developed to elicit appropriate information relevant to donation. There are two important aims, which are to ensure as far as possible that the donated blood is safe for transfusion to patients and that blood donation is not detrimental to the donor's health. Donors are accepted or deferred on the basis of the information they give the NBA using the United Kingdom donor selection guidelines developed by the Joint UK Blood Transfusion Services and National Institute of Biological Standards and Control which are used throughout the UK. All donors are asked to read a blood safety leaflet, which outlines key lifestyle risk factors. The donor selection procedures and questions used in the UK are in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe and will be in line with the proposed European Union Directive 2002/98/EC (Article 29) on setting standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

144861; 416 c389-90W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disclosure of information Blood Donors Safety Blood transfusions National Blood Service Questionnaires

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk