Israel Ends Donor Deferral for UK Residency and vCJD Risk

People who spent six months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996 are no longer deferred from blood donation in Israel, the country’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), announced on Sunday. Israel’s Ministry of Health directed MDA to introduce the deferral in December 1999 due to concerns about acquiring human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). 

The announcement follows a decision by Israel’s Ministry of Health to adopt the May 2022 recommendations from the United States Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of transmission of CJD and vCJD through blood or blood components. This recommendation was made by a professional committee that advises the Israeli Health Ministry on blood donation.

Under the revised donor eligibility process, MDA will add questions regarding the residence in the U.K. between 1980 and 1996 or receipt of blood transfusions/operations in the U.K. since 1980 to the country’s donor history questionnaire. Units of blood collected from these donors will be sent for filtration before being given to patients.