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Epidemiological Data (BIBD)

Blood drops, courtesy iStock

The joint NHS Blood and Transplant/HPA Epidemiology Unit collate and analyse information from the testing centres, reference laboratories and clinicians of the UK blood services to provide data on the number of infections in donors, the number of donations which would otherwise have been lost if additional tests were not used and the outcome of investigations into suspected post-transfusion infections.

  • Surveillance of Infections in Blood Donors
    Every donation is tested for markers of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, HTLV and treponemal (e.g. syphilis) infections. Donations are only released to the blood supply if none of these markers are detected.
    Added/updated: 4 October 2011
  • Surveillance of Infections Among Tissue Donors
    Since October 1999, reports of infected donors identified have been passed to the NHSBT/HPA Epidemiology Unit by NHSBT clinicians for collation.
    Added/updated: 4 October 2011
  • Surveillance of Transfusion Transmitted Infections
    A surveillance system to collect standardised information about infections suspected to have been transmitted by transfusion was introduced in the UK (excluding Scotland) and the Republic of Ireland as a collaboration between the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections and the transfusion services in October 1995.
    Added/updated: 4 October 2011
  • Estimated Frequency Infectious Donations entering the UK blood supply
    Current blood donation testing strategies minimise the risk of transfusion transmitted infections in the UK. On very rare occasions infectious donations are missed and enter the blood supply.
    Added/updated: 4 October 2011
  • Testing of Antenatal Samples
    NHSBT performs an antenatal testing service under contract with local trusts, for women undergoing routine antenatal testing for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis infections and rubella susceptibility.
    Added/updated: 25 March 2011

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