Dr Gunson said: "I should say that, despite the concerns expressed (in particular by Dr Contreras at the North London RTC), this approach gave rise to no serious difficulties in practice, and I do not believe that it had any consequences for the implementation date eventually achieved." Read more about Dr Gunson said: "I should say that, despite the concerns expressed (in particular by Dr Contreras at the North London RTC), this approach gave rise to no serious difficulties in practice, and I do not believe that it had any consequences for the implementation date eventually achieved."
There was concern about the funding implications of testing, even to the extent that a minute from Mark Fuller said that delay "can only help". Read more about There was concern about the funding implications of testing, even to the extent that a minute from Mark Fuller said that delay "can only help".
Dr Mortimer wrote to Dr Rejman and raised concerns about who would do and fund the confirmatory RIBA and PCR tests required for the implementation of the screening programme, suggesting that "Failure to make adequate provision for confirmatory testing would seem to me to call the screening programme into question." Read more about Dr Mortimer wrote to Dr Rejman and raised concerns about who would do and fund the confirmatory RIBA and PCR tests required for the implementation of the screening programme, suggesting that "Failure to make adequate provision for confirmatory testing would seem to me to call the screening programme into question."
Dr Metters stated that Professor Zuckerman has said "at least 30% of such cases could be avoided, possibly more." Read more about Dr Metters stated that Professor Zuckerman has said "at least 30% of such cases could be avoided, possibly more."
Dr Metters stated that if the Ortho symposium produced any significant new information there would still be time to take it into account in preparation for testing in the NBTS. Read more about Dr Metters stated that if the Ortho symposium produced any significant new information there would still be time to take it into account in preparation for testing in the NBTS.
The minister was told of the ACVSB's recommendation by a minute, with the indication that a full submission would be provided shortly. Read more about The minister was told of the ACVSB's recommendation by a minute, with the indication that a full submission would be provided shortly.
Dr Metters expressed concern about the resource consequences if the ACVSB were to recommend introducing Hepatitis C screening for all blood donations. Read more about Dr Metters expressed concern about the resource consequences if the ACVSB were to recommend introducing Hepatitis C screening for all blood donations.
Dr Gunson wrote to Dr Metters suggesting that the next ACVSB meeting (which had been scheduled for October) should take place in mid November after the next Ortho Hepatitis C Symposium. Read more about Dr Gunson wrote to Dr Metters suggesting that the next ACVSB meeting (which had been scheduled for October) should take place in mid November after the next Ortho Hepatitis C Symposium.
Dr Rejman wrote that there was a lack of good data but that the Ortho and Abbott ELISA tests were not very specific when used prospectively in screening donors. His view was that screening of blood donations for Hepatitis C appeared to be of benefit to recipients but could pose major problems to donors given falsely positive results. Read more about Dr Rejman wrote that there was a lack of good data but that the Ortho and Abbott ELISA tests were not very specific when used prospectively in screening donors. His view was that screening of blood donations for Hepatitis C appeared to be of benefit to recipients but could pose major problems to donors given falsely positive results.
In a memo to the Economic Advisers' Office, John Canavan requested an update on the cost/benefit analysis as experts now seemed to think that advances in knowledge about the anti-HCV tests and the means of confirming the results made it very difficult to resist the introduction of screening, and a number of countries had already done so. Read more about In a memo to the Economic Advisers' Office, John Canavan requested an update on the cost/benefit analysis as experts now seemed to think that advances in knowledge about the anti-HCV tests and the means of confirming the results made it very difficult to resist the introduction of screening, and a number of countries had already done so.