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The joint NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Epidemiology Unit comprises a small team of epidemiologists and public health specialists working with scientific and clinical colleagues across both NHSBTÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýUKHSA. The unit was established in 1995 to monitor infections in blood donors and transfusion recipients. Over time the role of the unit has expanded and we are now responsible for monitoring infections in blood, tissue and organ donors, and transfusion recipients.

Data from the 4 UK blood services is collated and analysed by the unit to produce surveillance reports and inform and evaluate policy changes relating to infection risk. The unit collates data on:

• bloodborne infections among donors
• the associated risk of transmission through transfusion and transplant

This information contributes to maintaining a safe supply of blood, tissues and organs through:

• informing donor selection criteria
• monitoring trends in infections
• following up any reported post-transfusion infections

The unit manages a series of national surveillance schemes, and data from these schemes is used to assess and improve blood, tissue and organ safety, including:

• infections in blood donors: monitored through donation testing and the collection of information about identified infected donors
• infections in tissue donors (including stem cell and cord blood donors): monitored in a similar way to blood donors
• reported post-transfusion infections: among transfusion recipients in England and Wales which forms part of
• emerging infections: relevant reports from various sources are collated and reported on a monthly basis or as necessary – more information on these reports is available on the Blood, tissue and organ donors: surveillance schemes
• Transfusion Microbiology Epidemiology Review (TMER): looking for evidence of transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) via blood transfusion

Blood donors are a well-characterised low-risk group with around 2 million donations screened each year for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), hepatitis E virus, and syphilis. Donations destined for Plasma for Medicine in England and Scotland are also screened for hepatitis A virus and Parvovirus B19.

The information collected contributes to our understanding of the epidemiology of bloodborne infections, and there is potential for following up infected donors. This could provide additional information to public health specialists working to reduce infections in the general population, through prioritising population groups for interventions and delivery of care.

See more information about the along with publications from the unit.