ACCEPT:

• If donor uses steroid inhalers (for asthma) for prophylaxis
• If donor occasionally uses creams over small areas of skin for minor skin complaints
• If using steroid eye drops, nasal spray or ear drops for control of allergic symptoms

DEFER:

• 24 hours after intra-articular injections
• 7 days after completing a course of oral or parenteral steroids if reason for their use is not a deferral
• 14 days after full recovery if given for an infection
• For 12 months from last dose if the donor has needed long term (six months or more) treatment

PERMANENTLY EXCLUDE:

• If steroid treatment is for a multi-system disorder
• If steroid treatment is for generalised inflammatory arthritis
• If regularly having steroid tablets, injections or enemas, or applying creams over large areas

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Steroid therapy in high doses causes immunosuppression. This may mask infective and inflammatory conditions that would otherwise prevent donation. Some individuals have to take replacement steroid hormones because they do not produce enough themselves. The dose of these must be increased during times of stress. It is considered that taking blood from people who need replacement therapy may put them at unnecessary risk. Long term steroid therapy may cause temporary adrenal dysfunction. Waiting 12 months from the last dose allows time for the adrenal glands to recover