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Blood Screening

7.1 Overview

Fast Facts: Blood Safety

5-10% of all HIV infections world-wide acquired through transfusion of infected blood and blood products (estimate) 13-million units of the global blood supply not screened for HIV, annually (estimate) Source: WHO, no date

Blood screening is very important as the risk of infection when exposed to HIV-infected blood is estimated at 90%.

An estimated 5-10% of all HIV infections world-wide are acquired through transfusion of infected blood and blood products, according to UNAIDS. In South Africa, there is an approximate 0.04% HIV prevalence amongst people who donate blood regularly, according to the health ministry. Every blood unit donated is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) also profiles blood donors into risk categories using factors such as age, gender, geographic area, the donation history of the individual and, up until recently, racial group.

A new profiling system that excludes race as a factor is now being implemented with a focus on donation history of the individual as a primary risk indicator.

Despite profiling and testing, an average of two cases of HIV-infection through blood transfusion are reported per year in South Africa (source).

South Africa to end racial profiling of blood donors

Rory Carroll. The Guardian.

Dec 4, 2004 — South Africa is to stop racially profiling blood donors after an outcry over the alleged rejection of blood from black donors because of the risk of HIV.

The health ministry and the South African National Blood Service agreed yesterday that a donor's colour should not be used to determine the risk of infected blood. The row flared this week when the health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, discovered that alongside sexual practices and healthiness of lifestyle, the blood service used skin colour to evaluate safety for donation. "It smacks of racism," she said.

... Robert Crookes, medical director of the blood service, told the South African Press Association this was the "most logical, medical, ethical and legally defensible system available". But yesterday the blood service appeared to row back after its chief executive, Anton Heyns, met health ministry officials in Johannesburg. ... Read more

Follow-up:

In mid-February 2005, the SANBS announced a new profiling system excluding race as a factor.