1. Laboratory guidance for issuing hepatitis E virus (HEV) negative blood components
HEV negative blood components are indicated in:
Patients awaiting solid organ transplant (SOT) – from 3 months prior to date of planned elective SOT or from the
date of listing for a solid organ transplant.
Patients who have had SOT – for as long as the patient is taking immunosuppressants.
Patients with acute leukaemia – from diagnosis (unless/until decision made not to proceed with stem cell transplant).
Patients awaiting allogeneic stem cell transplant – from 3 months prior to the date of planned transplant and up to
6 months following transplant, or for as long as the patient is immunosuppressed.
Extra corporeal procedures – e.g. dialysis, extra-corporeal circulatory support is included if within above indications.
Indicate requirement on the patient record both in the clinical area and transfusion laboratory.
HEV negative components will all be labelled as such
(except for MB Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and
MB Cryoprecipitate - see foot note 3.)
Only tick the HEV negative box on OBOS if you are ordering:
• Standard Red Cells • Pooled Platelets • Apheresis Platelets (adult)
• Washed Red Cells • UK FFP • UK Cryoprecipitate
(note: this will be in addition to any irradiated or CMV negative requirement)
Foot notes:
1. NHSBT will provide HEV negative components for neonates and infants under the age of one year.
2. The following NHSBT components will be issued HEV negative as standard and will always display NEG: HEV on the label.
Red Cells and Platelets for Neonatal Use; Red Cells and Platelets for Intrauterine Transfusion; Red Cells for Large Volume
Transfusion; Red Cells, Irradiated, for Exchange Transfusion (Neonatal); Pooled Granulocytes, Irradiated
3. Methylene Blue (MB) FFP and Cryoprecipitate are screened for HEV during manufacture in Austria
- these components will not display HEV negative status on the label.
4. If you suspect stem cell or blood component transmission of HEV please report to NHSBT as soon as possible.
NHS Blood and Transplant Patient Blood Management Team Version 1, March 2016