Blood bank A.I.D.S. ‘inevitable’

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 12

Blood bank A.I.D.S. ‘inevitable’

PA Hamilton It is probably inevitable that a few cases of blood transfusion ■ induced A.I.D.S. would occur in New Zealand, according to an Auckland doctor. In an article in the latest “Medical Journal,” Dr Graeme Woodfield of the New Zealand blood transfusion services centre in Auckland, said the cases would mainly originate from transfused donations released before the introduction of A.I.D.S. screening tests.

He said it was perhaps fortunate that the A.I.D.S. epidemic in New Zealand was several years behind that of the United States or Australia. “It has allowed transfusion services to take all

the early precautionary moves necessary to safeguard the nation’s blood supplies at a time when the number of A.I.D.S. virus carriers in the general community was still very low,” Dr Woodfield said.

To date there had been no reported cases in New Zealand of A.I.D.S. resulting from transfusions. Routine testing of blood for the A.I.D.S. marker started in New Zealand in October, 1985. These testing procedures, coupled with intensive donor screening to exclude potential donors who could be in A.1.D.5.-at-risk groups, has resulted In a heavy workload for transfusion services. He said the advent of A.I.D.S. had had a pro-

found effect on all blood transfusion services. Despite the statistical fact that transfusion was a relatively minor cause of A.1.D.5., an emotional reaction to the thought of possibly receiving contaminated blood had produced considerable apprehension in the general community. In the early stages of the programme donor attendances decreased, particularly as some donors incorrectly thought that A.I.D.S. might be contracted by giving blood, Dr Woodfield said. He said that A.I.D.S. would continue to be a problem in New Zealand and transfusion services would need to be meticulous in donor screening and testing procedures. Fortunately, he said,

there had been good cooperation with the homosexual community and blood donors had been helpful and co-operative during the difficult period over which procedural changes had taken place. Extensive re-registra-tion and questioning of all donors had now taken place, self-exclusion provisions had been instituted and donor medical screening upgraded. Publicity material on A.I.D.S. had been prepared and distributed. “These measures indicate that the transfusion services have taken all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of A.I.D.S. by blood transfusion and the risk to an individual hospital patient at the present time must now be exceedingly low,”

Dr Woodfield said. “There is still a need to make all potential donors fully aware of the donor exclusion categories and to direct persons who required A.I.D.S. testing to alternative test sites rather than to give blood in an effort to get an A.I.D.S. test performed anonymously and without cost.”

Medical staff could assist by carefully reviewing their own blood usage patterns and restricting the use of blood only to those circumstances which were fully justifiable.

“Such measures should help to ensure the maximum safety of all transfused blood, and to provide reassurance. for both doctors and patients in New Zealand,” Dr Woodfield said.