1. Affected Individual – Person who had hepatitis E at any age

DEFER:

• For 6 months from the date of full recovery

2. Current or former sexual partner of the donor has or had hepatitis E

 ACCEPT:

• Donor if their current or former partner has or had HEV infection

3. Current or former household contact of the donor has or had hepatitis E

 ACCEPT

• Donor if their current or former household contact has or had HEV infection

SEE IF RELEVANT

• Travel

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hepatitis E is an infectious hepatitis that is usually acquired through the consumption of undercooked contaminated food such as pork or processed pork products, or shellfish. Infection may also be associated with travel to countries with poor sanitation and exposure to contaminated water. Hepatitis E can affect animals and has been found in pigs. Infection in healthy blood donors is often symptom free and the virus usually clears quickly from their blood. However, in people who have underlying problems with their immune system, infection can be serious and occasionally fatal. The virus can also persist and lead to chronic inflammation of the liver in these immunosuppressed patients. Hepatitis E has been transmitted by blood transfusion. The IBTS started to test for hepatitis E using a NAT test (Nucleic Acid Test) in 2016. The IBTS repeats blood tests on donors who are found to be positive for the hepatitis E virus, until the virus is cleared from their blood. Once it has been confirmed that the virus has been cleared, the donors are returned to the active blood donor panel; this is usually at least 3 months after they first tested positive for the virus. Hepatitis E has not been reported to be transmitted sexually. Therefore, there is no need to defer the donor if his or her sexual partner had hepatitis E