Coronavirus

Acceptability at Recruitment

All donors with present or past COVID-19 infection are accepted. Please note on donor's file to check at later stage if matched to check if no long-COVID-19 symptoms are present and if fully recovered.

Acceptability at VT stage

QUALIFIED according to following conditions:

- If donor is COVID19 PCR or LFT positive, await resolution of symptoms (see JPAC guidelines on definition of symptom resolution) and adequate time period has passed that is required by the agency that collects blood samples

- If donor has COVID19 symptoms but no positive test result, advise to seek testing and defer until symptom resolution or time period required by the agency who collect blood samples has passed

- If donor had COVID19 exposure, donor can proceed. If donor tests positive or develops symptoms at any stage, please follow the advice for COVID19 positive/symptomatic donor

Acceptability at Work-Up and for CGT

QUALIFIED under the following conditions:

- If donor is COVID19 PCR or LFT positive, await resolution of symptoms (see JPAC guidelines on definition of symptom resolution) and at least 14 days have passed since the diagnosis until donor receives GCSF or 7 weeks have passed from diagnosis to the general anaesthetic for bone marrow harvest. In such cases, there is no need for concessionary release forms to be raised. Donor can attend medical based on the local collection centre rules and provided they are feeling well enough to attend the medical. However, if the transplant is extremely urgent or there are severe scheduling issues, please discuss with MO. In such cases concessionary release forms will need to be completed.

- If donor has COVID19 symptoms, advise to obtain COVID19 PCR or LFT test and if develops symptoms to seek medical help as per usual NHS advice. If donor tests positive, please follow COVID19 positive donor advice, if tests negative – discuss with MO as case by case discussion is required.

- If donor’s household member has PCR or LFT confirmed COVID19 diagnosis, please follow the COVID19 positive donor advice despite donor’s vaccination status.

- If donor had exposure to non-household contact who are either potentially positive for COVID19 or have confirmed COVID19 diagnosis, this will require case by case discussion with MO.

Individual at Risk

Donor/ Recipient

Definitions

JPAC definition of symptom resolution:

Donors can be considered to have recovered if they:

• Are generally well and back to normal activities

• Do not have continuing fatigue which affects daily activities

• Do not have a fever

• Do not have respiratory symptoms (except for a persistent mild cough)

• Are not experiencing cardiac symptoms (e.g. chest pain, palpitations)

• Are not experiencing any other symptoms e.g. peripheral neurological symptoms in upper or lower limbs, central neurological symptoms such as headache, dizziness

• Some individuals may have a cough or reduced sense of smell or taste for some weeks after resolution of their infection, but can be considered as recovered for the purposes of tissue and cell donation.

Fully vaccinated is defined as:

• 14 days have passed since the 2nd dose of vaccine • Donor is above 18 years old

Concessionary release/ non-conformatory needs to be raised only if:

• Donor is donating in less than 14 days from symptom resolution or diagnosis (depending on which is later).

Explanation of Condition

Viral infection that can cause diseases in mammal and birds. In humans, common coronaviruses cause colds and respiratory tract infections but are not considered a risk for transfusion recipients. Since 2002 there have been outbreaks in humans of new strains of coronavirus, associated with severe pulmonary infections and mortality rates of 10-35% e.g. SARS and MERS. There is no evidence at present that coronaviruses can be transmitted by blood transfusion or tissue/cell transplantation and therefore these measures are precautionary. See also Coronavirus

Guidance

1) Donor with confirmed Coronavirus infection on diagnostic PCR or LFT test and history of one or more symptoms of Coronavirus infection as per the UK GOV definition (a new persistent cough; high temperature; loss of/change in normal sense of smell or taste): Must not donate within 14 days of resolution of symptoms. If less than 14 days have passed since resolution of symptoms and the transplant is urgent then refer to the designated MO for a risk assessment and consideration of proceeding sooner than 14 days.

2) Donor with confirmed Coronavirus infection on diagnostic PCR or LFT test and no history of symptoms of Coronavirus infection as per the UK GOV definition: Must not donate within 14 days of positive result by diagnostic test. If less than 14 days have passed since positive result by diagnostic test and the transplant is urgent then refer to the designated MO for a risk assessment and consideration of proceeding sooner than 14 days.

3) Donor with suspected Coronavirus infection ie. NO confirmation of infection on diagnostic PCR or LFT test, but does have a history of one or more symptoms suggestive of Coronavirus infection as per the UK GOV definition (a new persistent cough; high temperature; loss of/change in normal sense of smell or taste): If at least 14 days have passed since the resolution of symptoms (despite donor's vaccination status) and the donor has been tested and advised that they do not have coronavirus infection then accept. If the donor has never been tested and never been advised that they do not have infection with Coronavirus then they must not donate within 14 days of resolution of symptoms. If less than 14 days have passed since of resolution of symptoms and the transplant is urgent then refer to the designated MO for a risk assessment and consideration of proceeding sooner than 14 days.

4) Donor shares household with a contact of a confirmed or suspected case of Coronavirus infection as per definitions above: Must not donate if less than 14 days passed from the last contact with the individual with confirmed or suspected Coronavirus infection despite their vaccination status. If less than 14 days have passed since the last contact with the individual or if the exposure is less significant than household contact and the transplant is urgent then refer to the designated MO for a risk assessment and consideration of proceeding sooner than 10 days.

5) Donor with a positive antibody test: requires confirmation with PCR or LFT test.

Version

Version 3, Edition 1 Date of Last Update 17 August 2022