To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons patients with myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and post-viral fatigue syndrome have been prevented from being tissue donors since 2007; and for what reasons recipients of tissue donations from such patients were deemed to be at risk.

People with myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and post-viral fatigue syndrome can donate tissues once their symptoms have resolved. Recipients of tissue donations from such patients have not been deemed to be at risk by the Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC). However, the causes of these conditions are unknown and so a precautionary approach is taken.

Guidelines on the selection of donors are set by JPAC, which includes representation of all four UK Blood Transfusion services and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Guidelines are regularly reviewed and should more information on the causes of these conditions emerge it would be taken into account in reviewing eligibility for donation prior to symptoms of the conditions having resolved.