§ Mr. HavardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the risk of blood stocks becoming contaminated from blood donated from those who have received blood transfusions in the last 10 years; [103983]
(2) if he will publish the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues findings from their consideration of whether recipients of blood and tissue should be excluded from donating blood.[103982]
§ Ms BlearsThere is no evidence world wide that CJD or vCJD has ever been transmitted through blood or blood products. However, the possibility of the theoretical risk cannot be ruled out.
The Government's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues (MSBT) has considered whether all blood transfusion recipients should be excluded from donating blood and has advised that this policy would have a damaging impact on blood supplies. There are therefore no plans to introduce this measure although we will continue to keep it under review. MSBT is continuing to consider possible further measures to reduce the theoretical risk of vCJD through blood transfusion and the public summaries and minutes of meetings of this Committee will be published on the Department of Health's website shortly.