New Zealand Blood Service reduces COVID-19 deferral period

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) has reduced the stand down period for blood and plasma donors who have had COVID-19 or are a household contact of someone who is a confirmed or suspected case.

The changes, which have been reviewed and approved by Medsafe, came into effect on Monday, August 22, 2022.

They are as follows:

• Someone who has had COVID-19 will need to wait seven days from their first day free of symptoms or after the date of their last positive test (if you have no symptoms) before donating.
• Those isolating for seven days due to being a household contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to donate blood or plasma at the end of that period if they remain well.
• The COVID-19 overseas travel deferral has been lifted as New Zealand’s case rates are comparable to those seen in most countries worldwide.

The deferral period for all three scenarios was previously 14 days.

The updated stand down aligns NZBS guidelines with public health recommendations in New Zealand and other international blood service providers.

Blood only has a shelf-life of 35 days, and the blood service needs to collect 2,350 units each and every week to ensure adequate supply is maintained. Plasma is the gold-coloured liquid part of blood and 2,600 donations are needed every week to meet demand.

Donors of all blood types are needed.

To book an appointment to donate, visit nzblood.co.nz, download the NZ Blood App or call 0800 448 325.

Those who have never donated before are encouraged to find out if they are eligible at nzblood.co.nz and then book an appointment to donate.

Donors are asked to book an appointment to donate blood or plasma, rather than just turning up.

Appointments help manage the social distancing and flow of people in donor centres at any given time and allow NZBS to forecast supply, ensuring it is collecting enough blood types and blood products.

About New Zealand Blood Service

NZBS is a not-for-profit Crown entity responsible for the collection, processing, testing and storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand. 

We rely on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country in order to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by our health services to save thousands of lives.

NZBS also provides cell and tissue products and related services to meet public health needs and maintains national oversight of organ donation and distribution.

For more information, please contact:

Asuka Burge – New Zealand Blood Service

(09) 523 6486, 027 272 6437   

Asuka.burge@nzblood.co.nz  

Sandy Trigg – Network Communication

(09) 306 5811, 021 231 9406

Sandy.trigg@networkcommunication.co.nz