Upcoming changes to the guidelines

The following table lists any upcoming changes to the Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services in the UK (Red Book) and its consitituent Donor Selection Guidelines (DSGs).

The linked Change Notification documents have been circulated to the UK Blood and Tissue Services (UKBTS) ahead of publication and the indicated changes to the guidelines will be published on this website on the date shown. The implementation of these changes is the responsibility of each UKBTS and may vary accordingly.

For published changes, see Updates.

Change number	Title	Updated	Guidelines affected
Change notification number 25-2026	Title Microbiology tests for donors and donations (chapter 9) (PDF only, 459KB)	Update date 19 August 2029	Guidelines affected Red book
Change notification number 22-2026	Title Cold-stored Platelets, in Additive Solution and Plasma, Leucocyte Depleted (PDF only, 203KB)	Update date 19 August 2026	Guidelines affected Red book
Change notification number 23-2026	Title Platelets, Apheresis, in Additive Solution and Plasma, Leucocyte Depleted (PDF only, 253KB)	Update date 19 August 2026	Guidelines affected Red book
Change notification number 24-2026	Title Updates to consent guidance (chapters 6 and 8) (PDF only, 203KB)	Update date 19 August 2026	Guidelines affected Red book
Change notification number 20-2026	Title VHF risks in the GDRI (PDF only, 243KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Geographical index
Change notification number 12-2026	Title Mosquito-borne viruses (PDF only, 454KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Geographical indexWhole bloodTissue (deceased)Tissue (live)Bone marrowCord blood
Change notification number 13-2026	Title Kidney and bladder disease (PDF only, 455KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 17-2026	Title Eligibility of blood donors undergoing acupuncture (PDF only, 287KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 18-2026	Title Chikungunya vaccination (PDF only, 146KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 19-2026	Title Donation prior to hazardous activities (PDF only, 199KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 15-2026	Title Alopecia treatments (PDF only, 241KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 16-2026	Title Antithrombotic treatments (PDF only, 209KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 14-2026	Title Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (PDF only, 184KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Whole blood
Change notification number 21-2026	Title Coronavirus infection (PDF only, 238KB)	Update date 11 August 2026	Guidelines affected Tissue (deceased)Tissue (live)