Recent Changes to Eligibility Criteria

Keep reading to learn more about any recent changes to our Eligibility Criteria, including the evidence and reasoning used in the rigorous review conducted by the NZBS clinical team.

As of Thursday 29 February 2024, the ‘mad cow’ (vCJD disease) blood donation criteria restriction in New Zealand was lifted. If you lived in the United Kingdom, France or Republic of Ireland between 1980 and 1996 for six months or more, you can now book an appointment to donate blood or plasma and start your lifesaving journey.

Before you book
You will still need to check your eligibility to donate. That’s because there may be other factors that mean you can’t give blood or much needed plasma right now. Our basic online eligibility quiz can be found here.

We’re also conscious it’s been a while since you may have donated blood or plasma in New Zealand or overseas. A lot has changed over the years so here’s some useful information about what you can expect and to help answer any questions you may have.

For more information and FAQ’s click here https://www.nzblood.co.nz/madcow/

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As of the 22 November 2021, New Zealand Blood Service made a number of changes to the eligibility criteria that is required to be met by all of our donors. In the table below, we have outlined the changes. 

If you would like any further clarification on the changes listed below, please call 0800 448 365 and ask to speak with a nurse.  

Criteria 

 

Previous requirements 

 

New requirements 

Acupuncture 

 

If the procedure is performed by someone other than a registered health professional, donors must wait 4 months before donating. 

 

If the procedure is performed by someone other than a registered health professional, donors must wait 3 months before donating. 

Age (New Donors) 

 

To become a blood donor, you must be aged 16-65. To become a plasma donor, you must be aged 18-65. 

 

To become a blood or plasma donor, you must be aged 16-71. 

Age (Existing/Lapsed Donors) 

 

Existing donors can continue to donate until their 71st birthday, and subject to authorisation by NZBS Medical Officers, may be eligible to continue to donate until their 76th birthday. Lapsed donors (who have given before, but not in the last 2 years) may be eligible to donate past their 71st birthday, subject to authorisation by NZBS Medical Officers. 

 

Existing donors can continue to donate until their 75th birthday, and subject to authorisation by NZBS Medical Officers, may be eligible to continue to donate until their 81st birthday. Lapsed donors (who have given before, but not in the last 2 years) may be eligible to donate past their 71st birthday, subject to authorisation by NZBS Medical Officers. 

Blood transfusion 

 

You will need to wait at least 12 months following a blood transfusion. 

 

You will need to wait at least 3 months following a blood transfusion. 

Body piercing 

 

If the procedure is performed by someone other than a registered health professional, donors must wait 4 months before donating. 

 

If the procedure is performed by someone other than a registered health professional, donors must wait 3 months before donating. 

Crohn’s Disease 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, you will unfortunately be ineligible to donate. 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease but you are in remission, you may be eligible to donate plasma. 

Dental Treatment 

 

Following a minor dental procedure, you must wait 24 hours following your treatment before you can donate. Following a complex dental procedure, you must wait 28 days before you can donate. 

 

If you have recently visited the dentist, you must wait at least 24 hours following a minor procedure (cleaning, fillings or braces) or until you have recovered before donating. For complex procedures, such as tooth extraction, please wait at least 7 days after your procedure and any antibiotic treatment.   

Epilepsy 

 

If you have had seizures in the last 3 years, you will not be able to donate. 

 

If you have not had a seizure in the last 1 year, you may be eligible to donate. 

Gonorrhoea 

 

After an episode of gonorrhoea, you must wait at least 12 months before you can donate. 

 

After an episode of gonorrhoea, you must wait at least 3 months before you can donate. 

Iron 

 

If a person has low iron levels in the body it is not appropriate for them to donate blood. If iron tablets have been prescribed by your doctor, you need to wait for 6 months following the completion of your treatment before you can next give blood. Vitamin tablets taken as a dietary supplement are OK. 

 

If you are taking doctor prescribed iron tablets, you must wait until you have completed your treatment before you can donate.  

If you had an iron infusion, you must wait 28 days before you can donate. 

Lyme Disease 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, you are eligible to donate 6 months after you have recovered fully and are certified fit by your doctor. 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, you are eligible to donate 3 months after you have recovered fully and are certified fit by your doctor. 

Tattoos 

 

If you‘ve recently had a tattoo (including cosmetic tattoos, such as microblading), cosmetic injectables or a body piercing, you must wait 4 months from the date of the procedure before you can donate.   

 

If you‘ve recently had a tattoo (including cosmetic tattoos, such as microblading), cosmetic injectables or a body piercing, you must wait 3 months from the date of the procedure before you can donate.   

Ulcerative Colitis 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, you will unfortunately be ineligible to donate. 

 

If you have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis but you are in remission, you may be eligible to donate plasma. 

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In 2013 NZBS commissioned an independent expert review group to review the behavioural donor criteria. The review recommended that the deferral period be reduced to 12 months. The expert group indicated that a further review should be undertaken when evidence had accrued to demonstrate further changes could be made without compromising the safety of New Zealand’s blood supply.

In the intervening period, NZBS has continued to closely monitored developments in the field.  This process has identified that there is now a significant body of evidence from blood services around the world that supports a further reduction in the deferral period. This view has been reinforced by decisions made by regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia, countries against which NZBS normally benchmark its practices.

Preparations to undertake a further independent expert review commenced in late 2019. The process was about to commence when the COVID-19 lockdowns were implemented. NZBS determined that the strength of evidence supporting change justified a different process on this occasion. The NZBS clinical team undertook a rigorous review of the available evidence and consulted widely with blood services in countries that had already reduced the length of the deferral period. A report was developed and submitted to Medsafe, the New Zealand regulatory authority. The proposals were approved and NZBS in now ready to implement them.

The new criteria came into effect on Monday 14 December 2020. The key changes are:

Revisions to existing donor behavioural criteria:

  •  The period for deferral following male to male oral or anal sex, with or without a condom, has been reduced to three months (was twelve months);

  • The period for deferral for people who have previously lived in a country known to have a high prevalence of HIV infection has been reduced to three months (was twelve months);

  • The period of deferral for sex workers, or those who accepted payment in exchange for sex, and their partners has been reduced to three months (was twelve months).

Introduction of a new criterion:

  • The period of deferral following the use of medication to prevent an HIV infection (i.e., pre or post-exposure prophylaxis) is three months.

These changes bring NZBS in line with other countries including UK, Canada and America.

Dr Peter Saxton, New Zealand AIDS Foundation Fellow, has produced a document outlining the justification for the on-going use of the behavioural donor criteria. This is designed for the gay community but the explanations are also relevant to the wider population.

Download a copy of "Changes to blood deferral in New Zealand: Summary for the gay community 2020" by Dr Peter Saxton.

2023: Review of the three-month deferral period

We're currently in the process of reviewing the three-month deferral period following male to male oral or anal sex, with or without a condom.

For more information, click here. 

 

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