PERMANENTLY EXCLUDE:

• If donor has/had polycythaemia. 9028 (99999) Haematological disease

SEE IF RELEVANT

• BLEEDING DISORDER

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Polycythemia is a condition that results in an increased level of circulating red blood cells in the bloodstream. People with polycythemia have an increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin, or red blood cell count above the normal limits. In primary polycythemia the increase in red blood cells is due to inherent problems in the process of red blood cell production. Secondary polycythemia generally occurs as a response to other factors or underlying conditions that promote red blood cell production. Polycythaemia is commonly linked to malignant or pre-malignant conditions or to the body's response to a shortage of oxygen. Apparent polycythaemia is caused by a decreased plasma volume. All of these are reasons not to accept a donation, either because of the association with malignancy, or because of the potential to harm the donor

Polycythemia (Rubra) Vera, also known as primary polycythemia vera, is a disorder where too many red cells are produced in the bone marrow, without any identifiable cause

Individuals with 'high affinity' haemoglobins can develop polycythaemia because of the reduced oxygen carrying capacity of their blood. This would be detrimental to a recipient of their blood and donation may be harmful to the donor. For these reasons they should not be accepted

Directive 2004/33/EC has legislative requirement that prospective donors with a history of coagulopathy are permanently excluded