PrEP/PEP use is added to the donor screening questionnaire

Canadian Blood Services introduces screening for pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP), asking all donors if they have taken the HIV-preventative medication in the last 4 months.

This screening criterion is added to the Donor Health Questionnaire because although the medication is a critical advance in the fight against HIV, Canadian Blood Services argue that it may interfere with the tests they use to detect infections in blood.


Saeed, S., Goldman, M., Uzikanin, S., & O’Brien, S. F. (2021). Evaluation of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) deferral policy among blood donors. Transfusion. DOI: 10.1111/trf.16349