The Hong Kong Red Cross has banned anyone who has been locked up for 72 hours or more in the past 12 months from donating blood for a year, citing the risk of infections such as hepatitis C and HIV.

The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service said on Wednesday the guidelines had been revised based on suggestions made by the internationally recognised certification bodies that conducted a review of the centre last year.

A spokeswoman for the service, which is operated by the Hospital Authority, said the suggestions were discussed by an expert panel and the new rules had been in force since May 27.

“Donors who have been, in the past 12 months, consecutively detained in a correctional institution or prison for 72 hours or more must wait 12 months before donating blood,” she said.

“The aim of the revision is to further enhance blood safety and reduce risks associated with blood transfusion, aligning with relevant guidelines of blood transfusion service organisations around the world.”

An information pack available on the centre’s website said that prospective donors who had been detained in the facilities for the 72-hour period or longer could have been exposed to “a higher risk of high-risk behaviour”, which increased the possibility of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections.