Blood donor travel survey 2016
Published 16 May 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blood-donor-travel-survey-2016/blood-donor-travel-survey-2016
1. Why the survey is needed
Accurate information about travel in donors is vital. After travel to certain countries, donors must wait before donating – this is called a deferral. Blood services continually assess the risk from travel posed by emerging infections; Ebola and Zika virus are recent examples. This includes the impact on any extra donor deferrals that may be needed after travel to different countries, or costs of new tests. NHS Blood and Transplant aim to reduce the risk of infections picked up during travel entering the blood supply and reduce travel deferrals at the donor session.
2. How the survey is run
NHS Blood and Transplant will invite a random sample of blood donors to participate in the survey via email, followed by a single reminder. The email will contain a link to the secure online survey hosted by Public Health England. Public Health England is conducting the survey anonymously and donors’ answers are completely separate from their donor records.
3. What the survey asks
Our survey asks blood donors to tell us about their travel, and if this has impacted on their donations in the past.
Donors can also give feedback on the travel deferral information currently provided by NHS Blood and Transplant.
The questionnaire covers topics surrounding:
- travel outside the UK in 2015
- detail on country(s) visited, timing and reason for travel
- timing of blood/platelet donations in 2015
- if travel in 2015 resulted in deferral (self, before session or on session)
- any diagnosis of a tropical infection
- any travel advice or malaria tablets taken
- risks of infection
- travel plans to the end of 2016
4. How NHS Blood and Transplant will use the information
It will allow better accuracy when predicting the impact of emerging infections on travel deferrals and testing costs
It will inform whether the information on travel considerations and donating provided by NHS Blood and Transplant could be improved.
It will contribute to estimates of prevalence of tropical infections among blood donors
It will inform of donors awareness of risk of infection due to travel
It will inform public health messages on travel health .
It will allow more accurate comparison with travel in the general population from the International Passenger Survey which is run by the Office of National Statistics.
5. Contact
For any queries please contact donorsurvey@phe.gov.uk