NOTE

The permanent exclusion that was applied to people who were or may have been exposed to an endoscope that had been used on a patient with vCJD is no longer required. Code 9040 with a start date of May 13th 1999 can be aged

ACCEPT:

• 4 months from date of flexible endoscopy and donor is not awaiting any further follow-up
• If the examination was carried out with a rigid endoscope e.g. colposcopy and most arthroscopies and proctoscopies and donor is well and is not awaiting further tests or results

 DEFER:

• For 4 months from date of any endoscopic procedures of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, or genito-urinary tract with flexible instruments
• Ensure that the underlying condition is not in itself a cause for deferral

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The permanent exclusion that was applied to people who were or may have been exposed to an endoscope that had been used on a patient with vCJD is no longer required

Nasal, sinus and Eustachian tube scopes are flexible scopes and therefore require deferral for 4 months

Flexible endoscopes can be difficult to disinfect. There have been cases where infection has been passed from person to person by examination and biopsy using this type of instrument

The procedure of ‘Virtual endoscopy’ is a radiographic technique that does not involve the use of an endoscope just a disposable tube it is not in itself a reason for deferral