Blood Safety

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has brought particular attention to the inherent dangers of blood and the importance of preventing transfusion-transmitted infection.  

Although an HIV screening test has been available since 1985, an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of all HV infections worldwide are transmitted by transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products.  

But prevention of transfusion-transmitted HIV infection is both achievable and cost-effective.  

Ensuring blood safety requires:

 

• A well-organized national blood transfusion service
  
• Safe blood donors—including recruiting volunteer (unpaid) donors and deferring donors who report risk behavior
  
• Effective blood-testing strategies
  
• Using blood appropriately
  
• Using blood components and blood substitutes
  
• Preventing severe anemia
  
• Procurement, effective purchasing, quality assurance, and forward planning
  
• Training and retaining effective staff