Table 2.

Reasons a donor may be deferred from donating blood based on pre-donation screening questions related to HBV sexual or percutaneous risk factors.

Reasons for Donation Deferral
Feeling unwell
Post-exposure hepatitis B prophylaxis
Had hepatitis B or C, ever
Had hepatitis (other than B or C) in last 6 months
Exposure to someone with hepatitis (viral or cause unknown) in last 12 months
Tattoo, skin, or ear piercing in last 3 months
Acupuncture or electrolysis in last 6 months (if not single use needle)
Needlestick injury in last 6 months
Intravenous drug use, ever
Sex with a sex trade worker in last 12 months
Received money or drugs for sex since 1977
Lived in certain Sub-Saharan African countries since 1977 (discontinued in 2018)

Note: The time frame for some deferral reasons have varied over the reporting period (2005 to 2020).