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US blood banks to use genetic testing to reduce viral transmission
BMJ 1999; 318 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7186.758b (Published 20 March 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;318:758
- Scott Gottlieb
- New York
Blood banks in the United States have begun phasing in new genetic tests designed to help eradicate viral infections that may occur as a result of transfusions.
The new tests can detect small amounts of nucleic acid from several viruses including hepatitis C and HIV. The testing is expected to be used on all donated blood by September. Previously, blood screening has depended largely on detecting antibodies to viruses in …
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