Overview strategies for blood donor selection vCJD

Several recent publications on transfusion risk assessment of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) have led to changes in donor selection criteria in several countries. The European Blood Alliance (EBA) informed its members about these changes and called on all European stakeholders to evaluate these analyses, carry out similar risk assessments and consider updating the criteria for deferral of blood and plasma donation if necessary.

The EBA’s Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Monitor Working Group conducted a survey in June 2022 to gather information on donor deferral policies due to the risk of vCJD among EBA members. This research shows considerable variation among members in vCJD mitigation strategies.