NHS HDL(2000)21

Health Department

 


Dear Colleague

MSBT GUIDANCE

1. The enclosed guidance updates the guidance issued by the Committee on Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation (MSBT) in March 1996. This new edition is important because it reflects changes in the approach to screening patients and in testing methods. Increasingly, the assessment of donors is moving to an approach which takes into account the risk of transmitting a disease and the risk of that disease to the donor compared with the benefit of the transplant.

2. In many instances transplants save lives, in others they improve the quality of life. There will always be some risk of transmission of infection but it will not always be calculable. For example, there is a theoretical risk that vCJD could be transmitted by an organ taken from a symptomless patient incubating the disease. However, as there are no specific risk factors for vCJD and no screening test, we have to recognise there is little that can be done to minimise that risk on the basis of current knowledge.

3. Tests and technologies are developing all the time. These are being kept under review by the MSBT Committee, and we shall issue amendments to this guidance whenever there is good evidence to support revision.

4. I should like to take this opportunity to reinforce the message that organs, tissues and cells must be donated freely and without reward, and should go to the patients with the greatest need. Organs and tissues cannot be accepted if donors or their relatives insist on attaching any conditions to the donation.

(cont'd)


7 November 2000
______________________________

Addressees

For action
Medical Directors, NHS Acute Trusts (for
onwards distribution to all NHS staff
involved in any aspect of organ or tissue
transplantation)


Medical Director, SNBTS

For information


Chief Executives, NHS Acute Trusts

National Director, SNBTS

Health Board General Managers


_________________________

Enquiries to:

W S Scott
2E(N)
St Andrew’s House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131-244 2420
Fax: 0131-244 2051

Further copies:

Gary Webb
Tel: 0131-244 3194

______________________

5. This is a carefully considered document which should be read by all involved in any aspect of organ, tissue or cell transplant.

6. Additional copies of this HDL can be obtained from Mr Gary Webb, tel: 0131 244 3194. It is also available on the Scottish Executive website: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk

Yours sincerely

 

DR AILEEN KEEL
Deputy Chief Medical Officer

 

To view the MSBT Guidance access the following link: www.doh.gov.uk/msbt