HC Deb 27 November 1996 vol 286 c300W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date mandatory testing of blood donations for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was introduced in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [6311]

Mr. Horam

There is no test available to detect any transmissible agent which may cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the blood of living persons. There is no evidence of any risk of transmission of CJD through blood or blood products. However, as a precautionary measure, national blood service guidelines exclude from giving blood individuals with central nervous system diseases, or who have received human pituitary growth hormone or human gonadotrophin of pituitary origin, and people with a family history of CJD.