Two Contract HIV From Donation

AP | 7/19/02

[kattracks]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jul 19, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Two people have contracted HIV from blood transfusions provided by a regional blood bank that failed to detect an infected donor, officials said.

The incident marks the second time since the nation's blood banks implemented new screening technology in 1999 that HIV has been transmitted through a transfusion, according to Florida Blood Services. The first case infected a man in San Antonio, Texas, in September.

The victims, one young adult and one in the mid-60s, were told Wednesday they contracted HIV from blood and plasma transfusions in Hillsborough and Pinellas county hospitals, according to Florida Blood Services, which processed the blood.

The donor gave infected blood on May 11, but had contracted the disease so recently that tests did not detect it, said German LeParc, chief medical officer for the blood bank. The virus takes seven to 10 days to build up sufficiently for detection.

When the donor returned to give blood again May 30, it tested positive for HIV and that donation was destroyed, LeParc said. The donor was notified and officials began tracking down patients who received the previous donation.

Experts said the chance of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from donated blood is one in 2 million to 3 million transfusions, and they stress that the nation's blood supply remains very safe.

---

On the Net:

Florida Blood Services: http://www.fbsblood.org

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[Seeking the truth]

This could be the consequence of a severe blood shortage here in Florida. I down known about the St. Pete area but down here in Boca Raton, they have been begging me for my 0 positive blood seemingly every day.

[OldFriend]

The blood supply is safe, unless it isn't...........

[PoisedWoman]

It's sad to see HIV transmitted to innocent people this way.

Why the blood shortage in Boca? I used to live there, am rare AB neg, blood bank would drain me dry if they got their hands on me.

How often can you give blood and stay healthy?

[LenS]

You can donate blood once every 56 days or so under current rules. Of course, one could simply go to a different blood bank and give more often.

[TBall]

Only the 2nd incident since 1999. That is impressive.

[RepubMommy]

You can donate blood once every 56 days or so under current rules. Of course, one could simply go to a different blood bank and give more often.

I am wondering why this indivual attempted to donate again a mere 2 weeks later. I am thinking they knew something was up and was using the screening done by the blood bank to confirm. I am very sorry this happened, but as an RN who gives tranfusions all the time to patients, I must point out this is a VERY rare occurrence. That being said, my best advice would be, if you know you are going to require blood transfusions prior to a hospitalization, donate your own blood beforehand. I am also wondering why at this time, this did not hit major headline news.

[OXENinFLA]

"The blood supply is safe, unless it isn't..........."

Wow! Are you in politics?? /sarcasm/

[Seeking the truth]

I believe six weeks is the recommended waiting period.

My wife works at Delray Medical Center and blood supply has been down at dangerous inventory levels for many, many months now.

Why?

It can't be the voter registration breakdown here in Palm Beach County, can it?

47 % Demorcrat
33 % Republican
20 % No Party

You would think with all those compassionate Dems down here, there would be a huge surplus!

[dougherty]

I am wondering why this indivual attempted to donate again a mere 2 weeks later.

I was wondering about that myself. Maybe it was a bum/street-person that was selling it to the blood bank? Those people should not be allowed to donate blood.

[anniegetyourgun]

This story is so sad. It's tragic to see how PC-thinking puts everyone at risk.

[2Jedismom]

I am wondering why this indivual attempted to donate again a mere 2 weeks later. I am thinking they knew something was up and was using the screening done by the blood bank to confirm.

I suspect they are paid for donating.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yogi?

[scholar]

I suspect they are paid for donating.


There are two organizations in Gary, IN. who pay for blood plasma donations. They have ads in the local newspapers every day of the week. Donors supposedly can make up to $200 a month.

[garyb]

Blood donations are about two months aparts (56 days) for donations, however, plasma may be donated more often, which, I think is about two weeks. So, if the patient was donating plasma, he may have been on date.

There are many questions that the blood bank asks their volunteers before accepting the donation to screen out potential HIV+ carriers. For example, have you had sex with another man since 1977. Have you ever paid to have sex? Have you ever used a needle for illegal drugs?

There is a last moment opportunity with an anonymous bar code sticker "use my blood" "do not use my blood" which is placed on the paperwork. This is for individuals that may think they are in a compromised position and forced to give blood (come on over.... why don't you dontate with us today....) to give the blood, but have it not used.

I suspect Mr. HIV+ needs to be charged with fraud and manslaughter.

[DoctorMichael]

Experts said the chance of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from donated blood is one in 2 million to 3 million transfusions, and they stress that the nation's blood supply remains very safe.

Lieing with numbers.................

The chance of any given person in the population getting AIDS from donated blood is one in 2 million to 3 million................The chance of these poor people getting AIDS is quite a bit higher. {/black, sardonic humor}

[PoisedWoman]

For example, have you had sex with another man since 1977.

That wouldn't work if the infected donor is a woman. There are plenty of women walking around with undiagnosed HIV. UCLA did a long study on this last year and discovered many undiagnosed AIDS cases among WHITE and ASIAN women....doctors don't think they fit the profile, so they don't check for HIV. Black and Hispanic women are checked regularly. So, HIV can get into blook supply from sources very difficult to detect.

[cajungirl]

I thought it was against the law to pay for blood anymore,,maybe it is just the red cross that has that policy. This is rare but I am waiting for someone from the dems to blame Jeb Bush,,should happen before noon today.

[tallhappy]

Title is no good. Very misleading.

They got it from transfusion. They received blood, did not donate it.

[Musket]

I am also wondering why at this time, this did not hit major headline news.

Why??? You really have to ask? Because the media is controlled by Liberals and they never report anything that will make the Saintly Gays look bad. AND if by chance they do report it, it is never emphasized or repeated so they can go on to their real business of bashing Conservatives and Patriotic Americans, that's why.