MAT with donation now live across Scotland

We’re delighted to announce that from Monday, 15 December, our Malaria Antibody Test (MAT) with donation process will begin at Glasgow Donor Centre. This milestone means MAT with donation is now available across all of Scotland.

Following successful pilots in the North and East of the country, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service introduced this improvement to make donating easier for blood and plasma donors who need a MAT. Our commitment remains the same - improving your donor experience while ensuring blood safety.

• Read our Malaria and donation leaflet

What's changed?

Previously, anyone who visited or had lived in a malarial zone needed to give a small blood sample for testing before they could give a full donation – a process which could take a few weeks to turn around. Now, you can donate blood or plasma during your visit, and we'll test your donation behind the scenes. If all results are satisfactory, your donation will go straight to helping patients. This change means:

• More donors can give when they want to
• We can collect more blood and maintain safe stock levels

Dr Nicole Priddee, Consultant Haematologist and SNBTS Clinical Lead for Blood Components, said:

'We are absolutely delighted that MAT with donation is now live across Scotland.

'This change makes a real difference for all donors, including those who travel frequently for work or leisure, and those who were born in or have lived in countries where malaria is present. It makes for a better donor experience and means that more donors are able to fulfil their wish to donate when they come, and more blood is available for patients in need.'

What about platelet donors?

Platelets have a short shelf life of just seven days, so to avoid potential expiry of our platelet donors' gifts, the samples first process remains in place. If you donate platelets, please contact your local donor centre to arrange a MAT before donating.

Do I need to do anything differently?

Not at all. If you think you need a MAT, simply book your appointment and come along as usual. Our team will answer any questions.

Important notes

• Living or travelling outside the UK can affect your ability to donate because some infections are more common overseas.
• If your MAT is negative and other tests are satisfactory, we’ll use your donation without contacting you.
• If your MAT is reactive or positive, we’ll contact you to explain what this means.

For more information, contact us online, email nss.snbtsenquiry@nhs.scot or call 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).