To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported infections of each type arising from blood transfusion have occurred in each of the last five years for which information is available. (190191)

The following table gives the number of reports of transfusion transmitted infections made to the National Blood Service/Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections Surveillance for the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what groups his Department has identified as being at high risk of being exposed to infectious disease transmittable by blood transfusion; how this risk has been assessed and measured; what restrictions are placed on the donating of blood by members of these groups; and if he will make a statement. (190192)

The rules for blood donor selection have been developed in line with scientific and medical knowledge. The current donor selection rules are a precaution against known infections and also against other infectious agents, known or unknown, that could be transmitted by blood.

Every blood donation is tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human T-lymphotropic virus. However, no testing process can be perfect. Infected donations may be missed because of the ‘window period’ between getting an infection and the test showing a positive result.

To minimise the risk, the United Kingdom blood transfusion service donor selection rules, in common with those of many other countries, permanently bar from blood donation any individual who has ever injected drugs, accepted payment for sex, or a man who has ever had anal or oral sex with another man. A temporary (one year) bar on donation is applied to individuals who report a potential exposure to infection that is stated to be no longer ongoing and unlikely to be resumed.

This policy is kept under review by the blood service and the Department.