Condition

Injection of any drug or other substance not prescribed by a qualified physician or other healthcare professional. This encompasses, for example, drugs of addiction such as heroin, and use of non-prescribed injected anabolic steroids.

Individual at risk

Recipient

Guidance at RECRUITMENT for adult volunteer donor and maternal donor (cord blood donation)

UNACCEPTABLE if injected drugs of addiction within the previous five years

UNACCEPTABLE if injected other non-prescription drugs, such as anabolic steroids, within the previous six months

Guidance at CT/WORK-UP

UNACCEPTABLE if injected drugs of addiction within the previous five years

If donor has injected androgenic steroid, or other non-addictive medications, then they may proceed at the discretion of the requesting transplant centre.

Justification for guidance

Use of non-prescribed injected drugs of addiction is associated with a considerably higher risk of transmission of blood borne infectious diseases.

Although case reports of transmission of hepatitis C have been reported in users of androgenic steroids have been reported, the exposure risk remains very low and such donors may proceed at the discretion of the requesting transplant centre.

References

Elghouzzi MH, Bouchardeau F, Pillonel J, Boiret E, Tirtaine C, Barlet V et al. Hepatitis C virus: routes of infection and genotypes in a cohort of anti-HCV-positive French blood donors. Vox Sang 2000; 79(3): 138-44.

Aitken C, Delalande C, Stanton K. Pumping iron, risking infection? Exposure to hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV among anabolic-androgenic steroid injectors in Victoria, Australia. Drug Alcohol Depend 2002; 65(3): 303-8.

Midgley SJ, Heather N, Best D, Henderson D, McCarthy S, Davies JB. Risk behaviours for HIV and hepatitis infection among anabolic-androgenic steroid users. AIDS Care 2000; 12(2): 163-70.

Rich JD, Dickinson BP, Merriman NA, Flanigan TP. Hepatitis C virus infection related to anabolic-androgenic steroid injection in a recreational weight lifter. Am J Gastroenterol 1998; 93(9): 1598.