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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much donated blood was disposed of by the National Blood Service as the result of false reactions to blood tests in each year since 1997; [193407] (2) how many people were informed by the National Blood Service in each year since 1997 of a false reaction to a blood test; and if he will make a statement; [193408] (3) for what reasons the donation of blood which has given a false reaction to a blood test but has proved safe in subsequent tests is not permitted; and why a further test after an interval of several months is required before the person can donate blood. [193409] Miss Melanie Johnson: The table shows the total number of donated units of blood that were disposed of by the National Blood Service (NBS) as a result of false positive results on blood screening tests. Since 2000, it has been national policy to inform donors of false reactions in order to take a small blood sample for repeat testing of the donor. This avoids collecting full donations from this group of donors in a situation where the donations will not be used. The table shows from 2000 onwards the number of donors who were informed, which is the same number as the number of units disposed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Total units disposed (all markers) Total donations tested 1997 6,161 2,553,387 1998 6,304 2,387,793 1999 6,861 2,442,122 2000 7,807 2,427,919 2001 5,372 3,79,521 2002 5,996 2,381,402 2003 3652 2,345,183 20041 3,627 1,162,954 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 January to June. The matter of a false reaction on a blood donation which is subsequently determined to be safe is a matter of good manufacturing practice, with which NBS must comply because it produces components which are transfused in humans. The interval of several months before the person can donate is a precautionary measure. It allows time to establish that there is not a true infection in the donor. This time is required because of the varying incubation periods of the infections for which screening is undertaken.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1163-5W;426 c1167-9W; 193407;193408;193409

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disclosure of information Blood Donors Infectious diseases Screening Waste disposal Blood transfusions National Blood Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk