In the context of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), certain blood donation deferral criteria are being lifted. The change affects people who were previously permanently deferred – for example due to stays in the United Kingdom during the BSE crisis, past blood transfusions, or neurosurgical procedures in Switzerland.
New blood donation criteria from Swiss Transfusion SRC effective 1 February 2026
13.01.2026
During the BSE crisis—particularly in the United Kingdom—cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) occurred in humans; because evidence suggested it could be transmitted via blood from infected donors, Switzerland introduced precautionary measures (including mandatory leukocyte depletion and revised donor deferral criteria).
Based on the evidence now available, Switzerland – like other countries – carried out a comprehensive reassessment of the existing donor deferral criteria by an expert group comprising specialists in transfusion medicine and infectious diseases. Following a request from Swiss Transfusion SRC and taking the expert group’s recommendation into account, Swissmedic agreed to the following revision:
The general deferral for blood donation is being lifted for people who:
- have received a blood transfusion in the past
- spent extended periods of time in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996
- have undergone a neurosurgical procedure in Switzerland
- received dental implants in Switzerland after 1993
In certain situations, temporary deferrals may still apply; please refer to the detailed information provided by Swiss Transfusion SRC.
Supplementary information
Adjustment of blood donation criteria: More people are eligible to donate blood
Press release by Swiss Transfusion SRC (available in German, French and Italian)