There have been four cases of variant-CJD infection associated with blood transfusion: three of the four recipients developed symptoms of vCJD. All four cases had received transfusions of non-leucodepleted red blood cells between 1996 and 1999.

The first case of vCJD disease associated with blood transfusion was identified in December 2003. This individual developed vCJD six and a half years after a transfusion of red cells. This was donated by an individual who developed symptoms of vCJD three and a half years after donation.

A case of vCJD 'infection' was identified a few months later in a recipient of red cells. The donor developed symptoms of vCJD 18 months after donation. This second case died from causes unrelated to vCJD five years after transfusion. Post-mortem investigations found abnormal prion protein in the spleen and a cervical lymph node, but not in the brain, and no pathological features of vCJD were found.

The third case developed symptoms of vCJD after 6 years and died 8 years and 8 months after receiving a transfusion of red blood cells. The donor developed vCJD about 20 months after this blood was donated.

The fourth case developed symptoms of vCJD 8.5 years after receiving a transfusion of red blood cells. The donor developed vCJD about 17 months after this blood was donated. The same donor donated the vCJD-implicated blood transfused to the 3rd and 4th cases.

On 16 March 2004 the Department of Health announced that people who had received a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980 would no longer be able to give blood. This change was implemented on 5 April 2004. Further information on measures to protect blood supply is available from the Department of Health and NHS Blood and Transplant.

Department of Health

NHS Blood and Transplant

Last reviewed: 01 June 2011

• Variant CJD and plasma products
  People who have received certain plasma products manufactured using plasma from donors who later developed vCJD, may have been exposed to infectivity and have an increased risk of developing vCJD.
  Added/updated: 27 July 2009
  
• Variant CJD and blood donors and recipients
  Added/updated: 10 July 2009
  
• Consultation on a new vCJD test for blood donors
  Added/updated: 10 July 2009
  
• Pre-surgical risk assessment for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) risk in neurosurgery and eye surgery units
  16 July 2009 Annex J of the ACDP TSE Risk Management Infection Control guidance contains a new question for patients undergoing high risk surgery and neuroendoscopy. This will identify those patients who have received blood or blood components from 80 or more donors since 1980.
  Added/updated: 8 February 2012