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Documented cases of post-transfusion malaria occurring in England: a review in relation to current and proposed donor-selection guidelines.

Kitchen AD, Barbara JA, Hewitt PE

National Transfusion Microbiology Laboratories, National Blood Service, London, UK. alan.kitchen@nbs.nhs.uk

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although uncommon, five cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria have been documented in England over the last 20 years. With the reappearance onto the market of high-quality malaria antibody assays, and by utilizing the results of analysis of these five cases, it has been possible to review the donor malaria-deferral guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Details of the five cases of post-transfusion malaria were reviewed against the proposed new donor-deferral guidelines for malaria. RESULTS: Three of the five cases of post-transfusion malaria were directly attributable to the deferral guidelines, allowing infectious donors to be bled. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed new guidelines will prevent further cases of transmission from semi-immune individuals.

Published 16 August 2005 in Vox Sang, 89(2): 77-80.
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