A prospective donor recently returned from travel to an endemic malaria area. When are they eligible to donate?

The eligibility for blood donation after returning from an area endemic to malaria is guided by the need to ensure that the donated blood is free of malaria parasites. It is generally accepted that the window for deferral should allow enough time for any potential infection to manifest and be detected.

In the case of malaria, the blood donation deferral period is typically set at 12 months. This long deferral period helps to protect recipients from the risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria, which can have serious health implications.

Travelers to endemic areas may indeed have been exposed to malaria, but symptoms can take time to develop, and parasites may not be detectable immediately after exposure. Therefore, a 12-month deferral ensures that the potential presence of malaria in any form is sufficiently resolved before a donor can contribute blood again.

While other options suggest shorter deferral periods, they do not align with the established guidelines aimed at ensuring donor safety and the safety of blood recipients.