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Transmission of infection

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The transmission of infectious agents is a small but serious risk of blood transfusion. Possible agents include:

  • hepatitis B and C - blood donations are now screened for these agents. The surface antigen, HBsAg, forms the basis of screening for hepatitis B virus and occasionally transmission may take place because a donor is in an early phase of infection before antigen is detectable

  • CMV - may occur as the virus can remain dormant in leukocytes. Immunocompromised patients without anti-CMV antibodies, and neonates, should be given blood from CMV-negative donors only

  • HIV-1 - donated blood is screened for anti-HIV antibodies but there remains a very small risk of transmission - estimated at 1 in 300,000 units transfused - since antibody may not yet have developed in the donor

  • infectious mononucleosis may occasionally be transmitted

  • syphilis transmission is rare as all donations are screened for treponemal infections and the infectivity of Treponema pallidum declines as blood is stored at 2 - 6 degrees C

  • malaria - rare in the UK as the method of donor selection is designed to exclude potentially infectious donors. It is more likely in endemic areas in which anti-malarial drugs are advised for blood recipients

  • other rare potential contaminants include brucella, plasmodia, trypanosomes

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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