Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
You cannot give blood if you have ever had syphilis or gonorrhoea.
You can give blood 4 months after complete recovery and conclusion of treatment for chlamydia and genital herpes.
You can give blood 2 weeks after complete recovery and conclusion of treatment of genital/anal warts.
Contact us for all other STI's not listed.
All donors are tested for infections that can be passed on by blood transfusions. Recent infection may not always show up on testing in the early stages – i.e. in the ‘window period.’ This is why we must take great care in donor selection and why you must not give blood to see if you are infected. If you give blood to see if you are infected you are putting patients’ lives at risk.
If you have any reason to believe you may have acquired an infection through unprotected sex, you should not give blood. Safe sex practices are vital to the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. However, 'protected sex' is not 100% effective; therefore the following apply even if a condom or other form of protection was used.
You must NEVER give blood if:
You think you need a test for HIV or hepatitis.
You or your partner have HIV or HTLV.
You, your partner or close household contacts have hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
You have ever received money or drugs for sex.
You have ever injected, or have been injected with, non-prescribed drugs; even once or a long time ago. This includes body building drugs and injectable tanning agents.
You must NEVER give blood if:
You think you need a test for HIV or hepatitis.
You or your partner have HIV or HTLV.
You, your partner or close household contacts have hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
You have ever received money or drugs for sex.
You have ever injected, or have been injected with, non-prescribed drugs; even once or a long time ago. This includes body building drugs and injectable tanning agents.
You must NOT give blood for at least 4 months after you last had oral, vaginal or anal sex with:
anyone who has syphilis or any other sexually transmitted infection
anyone who had ever been given money or drugs for sex
anyone who has ever injected or who has been infected with non-prescribed drugs, even once or a long time ago. This includes body building and injectable tanning agents
All of the above apply even if a condom or other form or protection was used.
You must not give blood for at least 4 months after anal sex with:
A new sexual partner* OR more than one sexual partners
*A new sexual partner is someone you have not had sex with before or a person with who you resumed a sexual relationship with in the past 4 months
You must not donate for at least 4 moths if:
You have taken medication to prevent HIV infection (pre/post exposure prophylaxis, PrEP / PEP)?
You have taken part in Chemsex i.e. have used drugs (other than cannabis, alcohol or Viagra) before or during sex to enhance sexual experience?
You must not give blood for at least 4 months if you have taken part in Chemsex
Chemsex is a type of sexual activity where people take certain drugs (excluding alcohol, cannabis, Viagra and other medication for erectile dysfunction) to enhance their sexual experiences, and let them have se for longer or with more people. Drugs associates with chemsex include methamphetamine, mephedrone and GBH.
If you injected or were injected or were injected with chemsex drugs you cannot donate
