AIDS
How does the American Red Cross protect the blood supply from HIV?
The Red Cross does several things to protect the blood supply from HIV-1 and HIV-2 (the viruses that cause AIDS)
The Red Cross educates donors about who should not give blood by having every donor read the publication, "What You Must know Before Giving Blood."
Nurses interview potential donors and review the medical history provided by the donor on the blood donation form.
Donors have the opportunity both before and after the donation to stop, anonymously and without embarrassment, their donation from being used for transfusions.
The Red Cross tests every donor's blood each time he or she donates. Highly sensitive tests performed on samples from each blood donation are effective in detecting HIV exposure. Testing for HIV-1 began March 1985. An even more sophisticated method of testing for HIV antigen was implemented in March 1996.
All blood that tests positive for HIV-1 and HIV-2, syphilis, hepatitis, or the human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I and HTlV-II) is destroyed. The donor is put in a confidential national registry called the Donor Deferral Registry (DDR). Blood donations from these people will not be used by an Red Cross blood center.
Are people from certain countries excluded from donating blood?
Occasionally, an unusual strain of HIV will show up that can't be detected by our standard HIV antibody tests. Fore example, a different strain of HIV virus has emerged in these countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger and Nigeria.
Currently, people who were born or have lived in any of these countries since 1977 are indefinitely deferred from donating blood. It is safer to exclude potential donors who may have been in contact with this particular strain of HIV until the test is changed to include detecting new variants.
Can I get AIDS from donating blood?
No. We use a needle only once and then throw it away. No one else's blood ever touches you. Sterile procedures and disposable equipment are used in all the Red Cross donor centers. All items are disposed of in special containers.
You can't get any disease or virus - including HIV - from donating blood.
Can I get AIDS from receiving blood?
The blood supply is well protected from the AIDS virus. The risk of being infected with HIV from a blood transfusion is very low.
A risk of infection exists during what is called the "window period." This is the time between infection with HIV and the appearance of antibodies in the bloodstream (when the test becomes positive). An estimate of the length of this period is now 12-16 days.
Since the Red Cross began testing blood for the HIV-antibody in early 1985, the risk of HIV-contaminated blood entering the blood supply has dropped dramatically. In March 1996 ARC began testing for the HIV antigen. According to latest medical research, the chance of receiving an HIV-infected blood unit is estimated to be 1 in 676,000 or less.
Is it true that I can get a free AIDS test when I donate blood?
The Red Cross tests blood products, not donors. The Red Cross wants healthy donors who do not take part in high-risk behaviors that could lead to HIV infection. If you want information about AIDS, contact the Red Cross HIV/AIDS Public Education office at 608-233-9300. This office can also refer you to anonymous HIV test sites.
You may also contact your local health department for AIDS testing. Testing through your local health department is free and may be done anonymously.
If my blood tests HIV-positive, will I be informed about it?
Yes. Donors with blood that is confirmed positive for infectious diseases are notified and have the opportunity to meet with a specially-trained, professional Red Cross donor counselor.
Will the Red Cross call my home to tell me I have HIV? I don't want my family or friends to find out before I'm ready to tell them.
No. The Red Cross regards blood test results as private and confidential information. The Red Cross may call to arrange a counseling appointment but does not give out information regarding positive blood test results over the telephone.
What happens if I donate my blood and realize afterwards that I shouldn't have because I may have been exposed to HIV or another disease?
If you give blood but decide later that your blood may not be safe to transfuse, call 1-800-626-4017 as soon as possible. You need only state that your blood should not be given to another person.
