PrEP

PrEP – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Acceptability at Recruitment

Acceptable

Acceptability at CT / Work-Up

Guidelines around PrEP have recently changed. Instead of a three month deferral period, current guidance is to inform the TC of the PrEP and it is their discretion on whether a three month deferral period is required. If the TC feels that the risks of delaying the donation outweigh the risks of a falsely negative HIV result, then the deferral period can be shortened or dismissed.

Individual at Risk

Recipient

Explanation of Condition

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is used to prevent HIV infection

Justification for guidance

PrEP may alter HIV testing, resulting in an unclear or negative result in HIV positive donors, with a potential risk of transmission of this virus to patients.

We care a lot about the health of our donors. If you've been using medications like PrEP or PEP to prevent HIV, it could affect the accuracy of HIV tests for up to 3 months after you stop using them (Seed et al, 2020 - [1]). Because of this, health authorities worldwide, including the UK, advise that if you've used PrEP or PEP in the last 3 months, you shouldn't donate.