A to Z of MS
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A to Z of MS Organ donation
Although people with multiple sclerosis can't give blood or donate bone marrow, the donation of organs is allowed. The reasoning is that the recipients of organs can be told about the donor and are in a position to accept any associated risks. With transfusions of blood this is not possible.
The suitability of most people as donors will be decided by the medical teams. The Department of Health revised the MSBT (Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation) Guidelines in August 2000. This takes into account the risks of disease transmission to the recipient of an organ. The only absolute contraindications are HIV and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (CJD). MS falls into a group of 'diseases of unknown aetiology (cause)'.
The MS Tissue Bank stores tissue from the brain and spine of donors for use in research.