Risk of infection from blood transfusion in UK is negligible

There is continuing public concern about the risk of transmission of infections through blood transfusion. In the largest study so far in the United Kingdom Regan et al (p 403) followed up recipients of 20 000 units of blood and tested them nine months later to identify transmission of hepatitis B or C, HIV, or human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. No transfusion transmitted infections were identified. Three patients acquired hepatitis B during or after hospital admission but not through transfusion. The authors conclude that the current risk of transmission of these infections through transfusion in the United Kingdom is very small.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Prospective investigation of transfusion transmitted infection in recipients of over 20 000 units of blood
Fiona A M Regan, Patricia Hewitt, John A J Barbara, and Marcela Contreras
BMJ 2000 320: 403-406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ