Removal of UK-donor deferral for variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: A large donation gain in Australia

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Until 25 July 2022, people who spent more than 6 months in the United Kingdom during the variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) risk period 1980–1996 (UK donors) were deferred from blood donation in Australia. Regulatory approval to remove the deferral was underpinned by published mathematical modelling predicting negligible vCJD transmission risk increase with a gain of 58,000 donations. Materials and Methods: The donor questionnaire retained the UK deferral screening question until a version update effective 12 February 2023, which enabled identification of the newly eligible cohort of UK donors. Their donations were tracked for a 6-month period (25 July 2022–24 January 2023) and compared with baseline Lifeblood donation metrics and predicted gains. Results: A total of 38,462 UK donors attended to donate 78,762 times in the 6 months. Of these, 32,358 donors (females = 19,456, males = 12,902) successfully donated 67,914 times representing 8.4% of total collections. Conclusion: Cessation of the UK deferral resulted in donation gains exceeding modelled predictions because of a higher than predicted number of donors who donated at a higher rate. Had these newly eligible donors not donated, overall donation numbers would have been 88% of target rather than the 96% achieved.