Travel

Travel outside the UK can affect blood donation. This is because some infections may be caught abroad, usually through mosquito, or other insect bites.

Malaria

Testing rules vary if you have LIVED in a malarial country for 6+ months, VISITED for less than 6 months, or HAD Malaria.

If you have spent 6 months or more in a malarial area or HAD malaria, you may have a higher chance of past infection and partial immunity that can hide symptoms. Therefore, we will test your donation for malaria antibodies when you first attend and after any new exposure to malaria.

If you think your travel history could affect your ability to donate, we urge you to get in contact before your session, either online or by phoning us on 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Visitors

• If you have VISITED a malarial country, you can donate blood or plasma 4 months after you return to the UK.
• If donating between 4–12 months after return, we must test your donation for malaria antibodies (MAT test).
• After 12 months, no test is needed.
• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.

Residents / Long stay (6+ months)

• If you have LIVED in a malarial area for 6+ months at any time in the past, you must wait at least 4 months after leaving the malarial area before donating.
• This test must be repeated each time you visit a malarial area.
• Blood/plasma donors can donate immediately, and their donation be tested.
• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.

If you have HAD Malaria

• Platelet donors must come and have a MAT test before you can donate. If your MAT comes back negative, we’ll invite you back to donate.
• You must wait at least 3 years after treatment and recovery and 4 months after leaving a malarial area.
• This process repeats each time you visit a malarial area.
• Blood/plasma donors can donate immediately, and their donation be tested.

West Nile Virus (WNV)

You can give blood following travel to a WNV area (including North America and some parts of Europe). We decide when you come along if we need to do an extra test for WNV on your donation. So please make sure you tell us about any recent travel outside the UK, each time you give blood.

Tropical Viruses

Several viruses are spread by mosquitoes, including Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and Zika. As long as you have been well, you can give blood 4 weeks after travel to an affected area. If you have been ill during or shortly after your visit, we’ll ask you to wait 6 months before giving blood.

South American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease)

Chagas disease is found in some areas of South and Central America, and is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi (often abbreviated to T. cruzi ). People who are at risk of Chagas can give blood in Scotland provided we’ve done an extra test to check they haven’t been exposed to this condition

If you or your mother were born in South or Central America, or if you have ever lived in this region for more than four weeks, please contact us on 0345 90 90 999 for advice about whether you will need testing for T. cruzi before donating. Testing will involve giving a small sample of your blood which we send to our lab to test. If your test comes back negative we will get in touch to let you know you can donate.

Outbreaks and new infections

New infections can emerge at any time, so our rules can change at short notice. Please check back each time you’re preparing to give blood.

Destinations that DO NOT delay blood donation

Every time you come to give blood we will ask you: whether you were born abroad; whether you have lived or worked abroad for more than 6 months; and whether you have had any illnesses during or after travel abroad.

It is very important you tell us about your recent travel, if you were ill while abroad, or shortly after you came back. Different rules may apply if you have lived in one of these countries for more than 6 months.

Please get in touch before coming along to give blood. You should also check our additional eligibility criteria before giving blood. Talk to one of our advisers before coming along to give blood, on 0345 90 90 999.