New guidance published this week by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) aims to reinforce the safety of donor breast milk by making recommendations to maintain high standards of practice in specialist milk banks in the UK.
The guideline is primarily aimed at milk banking staff and health-care professionals who support women who are, or who want to become, breast milk donors or who care for patients who may be given the milk. These include, but are not limited to, midwives, health visitors and neonatologists.

Recommendations include:
• Using serological testing to screen all potential breast milk donors for diseases including HIV, hepatitis and syphilis.
• Pasteurising all milk to reduce the risk of any potentially harmful bacteria being passed on. A sample from each batch of donated breast milk should be tested for bacterial contamination before pasteurisation and at regular intervals post pasteurisation. Milk should be discarded if samples exceed levels stated in the guideline.
• Ensuring that all equipment used in milk handling and processing is regularly inspected using the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Only supplying donor breast milk to hospitals or neonatal units who agree to comply with the tracking procedures for milk as outlined by the milk bank. The receiving hospital or neonatal unit should also keep a record of how the milk is used.

Christine Carson, Programme Director for the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE, said: “Our national milk banks provide a valuable service to those who need donor breast milk by collecting, processing and storing donated milk safely, to reduce the risk of any harmful bacteria being spread.

“This new guideline, which has been developed by a range of experts, will help reinforce the message that specialist milk banks operate to the highest safety standards and our recommendations will make sure good practice is consistent across the UK.”