A scare over the contamination of blood products with hepatitis C virus has made Irish health authorities begin nationwide screening of up to 100 000 mothers who have received anti-D immunoglobulin since 1970. This follows the discovery, on routine testing, that nine women who donated blood in the southern Munster region had antibodies to hepatitis C virus. They had all given birth and received injections of anti-D immunoglobulin in 1977.

Health minister Brendan Howlin …