Commission Directive 2006/17/ECShow full title

ANNEX III U.K. SELECTION CRITERIA AND LABORATORY TESTS REQUIRED FOR DONORS OF REPRODUCTIVE CELLS AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3(b) AND ARTICLE 4(2)

1. Partner donation for direct use U.K.

Donor selection criteria and laboratory testing do not need to be applied in the case of partner donation of reproductive cells for direct use.

2. Partner donation (not direct use) U.K.

Reproductive cells that are processed and/or stored and reproductive cells that will result in the cryopreservation of embryos must meet the following criteria:

2.1.

the clinician responsible for the donor must determine and document, based on the patient’s medical history and therapeutic indications, the justification for the donation and its safety for the recipient and any child(ren) that might result;

2.2.

the following biological tests must be carried out to assess the risk of cross-contamination:

HIV 1 and 2	Anti-HIV-1,2
Hepatitis B	HBsAg Anti-HBc
Hepatitis C	Anti-HCV-Ab

In case of sperm processed for intrauterine insemination and not to be stored, if the tissue establishment can demonstrate that the risk of cross contamination and staff exposure has been addressed through the use of validated processes, biological testing may not be required;

2.3.

where HIV 1 and 2, hepatitis B or hepatitis C test results are positive or unavailable, or where the donor is known to be a source of infection risk, a system of separate storage must be devised;

2.4.

[F1 HTLV-I antibody testing must be performed for donors living in, or originating from, high-prevalence areas or with sexual partners originating from those areas or where the donor’s parents originate from those areas;]

2.5.

in certain circumstances, additional testing may be required depending on the donor’s travel and exposure history and the characteristics of the tissue or cells donated (e.g. Rh D, malaria, CMV, T. cruzi);

2.6.

positive results will not necessarily prevent partner donation in accordance with national rules.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 2012/39/EU of 26 November 2012 amending Directive 2006/17/EC as regards certain technical requirements for the testing of human tissues and cells (Text with EEA relevance).

3. Donations other than by partners U.K.

The use of reproductive cells other than for partner donation must meet the following criteria:

3.1.

donors must be selected on the basis of their age, health and medical history, provided on a questionnaire and through a personal interview performed by a qualified and trained healthcare professional. This assessment must include relevant factors that may assist in identifying and screening out persons whose donation could present a health risk to others, such as the possibility of transmitting diseases (such as sexually transmitted infections), or health risks to themselves (e.g. superovulation, sedation or the risks associated with the egg collection procedure or the psychological consequences of being a donor);

3.2.

the donors must be negative for HIV 1 and 2, HCV, HBV and syphilis on a serum or plasma sample, tested in accordance with Annex II, point 1.1, and sperm donors must additionally be negative for chlamydia on a urine sample tested by the nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT);

3.3.

[F1 HTLV-I antibody testing must be performed for donors living in, or originating from, high-prevalence areas or with sexual partners originating from those areas or where the donor’s parents originate from those areas;]

3.4.

in certain circumstances, additional testing may be required depending on the donor’s history and the characteristics of the tissue or cells donated (e.g. RhD, malaria, CMV, T. cruzi).

3.5.

for autologous donors, Annex I, point 2.1.1 applies;

3.6.

genetic screening for autosomal recessive genes known to be prevalent, according to international scientific evidence, in the donor’s ethnic background and an assessment of the risk of transmission of inherited conditions known to be present in the family must be carried out, after consent is obtained. Complete information must be provided, in accordance with the requirements in force in Member States. Complete information on the associated risk and on the measures undertaken for its mitigation must be communicated and clearly explained to the recipient.

4. General requirements to be met for determining biological markers U.K.

4.1. The tests must be carried out in accordance with Annex II, points 2.1 and 2.2. U.K.

[F1 4.2. For donations other than by partners, blood samples must be obtained at the time of each donation. U.K.

For donation by partners (not for direct use), blood samples must be obtained within three months before the first donation. For further partner donations by the same donor, further blood samples must be obtained according to national legislation, but no later than 24 months from the previous sampling.]

4.3. Sperm donations other than by partners will be quarantined for a minimum of 180 days, after which repeat testing is required. If the blood donation sample is additionally tested by the nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT) for HIV, HBV and HCV, testing of a repeat blood sample is not required. Retesting is also not required if the processing includes an inactivation step that has been validated for the viruses concerned. U.K.