At a meeting of the CBLA Central Committee on 27 November 1983, the proportion of donations which might be excluded by a positive test was indicated by the percentage of samples obtained in Bristol which tested positive, which was 0.75% (75 cases out of 10,000 tests). However, it emerged that 48 out of these 75 were prisoners, so it was decided that another 10,000 donations excluding those from prisoners would be tested. Read more about At a meeting of the CBLA Central Committee on 27 November 1983, the proportion of donations which might be excluded by a positive test was indicated by the percentage of samples obtained in Bristol which tested positive, which was 0.75% (75 cases out of 10,000 tests). However, it emerged that 48 out of these 75 were prisoners, so it was decided that another 10,000 donations excluding those from prisoners would be tested.
The minutes of the CBLA Central Committee's first meeting on 21 June 1983 recorded a discussion of ways of dealing with the problems of AIDS for the blood supply, and that not enough was known about AIDS to enable any decision to be made. It is unclear whether any of the discussion focused on surrogate testing. Read more about The minutes of the CBLA Central Committee's first meeting on 21 June 1983 recorded a discussion of ways of dealing with the problems of AIDS for the blood supply, and that not enough was known about AIDS to enable any decision to be made. It is unclear whether any of the discussion focused on surrogate testing.
The minutes of the meeting of regional transfusion directors on 18 May 1983 did not record the consideration of whether anti-HBc screening could help to detect the transmission of AIDS. Read more about The minutes of the meeting of regional transfusion directors on 18 May 1983 did not record the consideration of whether anti-HBc screening could help to detect the transmission of AIDS.
Dr John Barbara stated in his witness statement that he did not agree entirely with Dr Craske's view regarding anti-HBc screening. Dr Barbara felt that anti-HBc screening would help to detect the transmission of AIDS. He said: "testing for anti-HBc would give some evidence of a past hepatitis B infection. Anti-HBc positivity might reflect a shared route of infection by HBV or HIV." Read more about Dr John Barbara stated in his witness statement that he did not agree entirely with Dr Craske's view regarding anti-HBc screening. Dr Barbara felt that anti-HBc screening would help to detect the transmission of AIDS. He said: "testing for anti-HBc would give some evidence of a past hepatitis B infection. Anti-HBc positivity might reflect a shared route of infection by HBV or HIV."
In 1993, a Committee to Study HIV Transmission through Blood and Blood Products was established by the US Institute of Medicine. The study was published in 1995 and concluded that it would have been "reasonable to require" donated blood to be screened for the anti-HBc antibody and for male donors to be asked about sexual activity with other men in January 1983. Read more about In 1993, a Committee to Study HIV Transmission through Blood and Blood Products was established by the US Institute of Medicine. The study was published in 1995 and concluded that it would have been "reasonable to require" donated blood to be screened for the anti-HBc antibody and for male donors to be asked about sexual activity with other men in January 1983.
Dr Hewitt explained that the only means of communicating with donors was by letter to the last recorded address held on the blood centre records. There was no facility to trace individuals by other means such as through NHS records. Read more about Dr Hewitt explained that the only means of communicating with donors was by letter to the last recorded address held on the blood centre records. There was no facility to trace individuals by other means such as through NHS records.
The lack of a centralised database meant that some individuals infected with HIV were missed by the national lookback scheme. One individual received blood transfusions between June 1982 and 1984. Read more about The lack of a centralised database meant that some individuals infected with HIV were missed by the national lookback scheme. One individual received blood transfusions between June 1982 and 1984.
A witness describes how being told of her husband's death nine years after his death provided comfort and that it was nice to know his death was out of her husband's control and "someone else's fault". Read more about A witness describes how being told of her husband's death nine years after his death provided comfort and that it was nice to know his death was out of her husband's control and "someone else's fault".
Dr Jack Gillon was responsible for HIV Lookback in Edinburgh and South East Scotland Blood Transfusion Service. When a donor tested positive, he was responsible for obtaining the donation records. He wrote to the patient's consultant to inform them that his or her patient had received blood that was possibly infected with HIV, and to offer to inform the patient informally. Read more about Dr Jack Gillon was responsible for HIV Lookback in Edinburgh and South East Scotland Blood Transfusion Service. When a donor tested positive, he was responsible for obtaining the donation records. He wrote to the patient's consultant to inform them that his or her patient had received blood that was possibly infected with HIV, and to offer to inform the patient informally.
Dr Chitra Bharucha, consultant clinical haematologist and deputy director of NIBTS from 1981 to 2000, noted there were only two HIV positive donors in that time. In order to maintain confidentiality in a small community, she telephoned the GPs herself. Read more about Dr Chitra Bharucha, consultant clinical haematologist and deputy director of NIBTS from 1981 to 2000, noted there were only two HIV positive donors in that time. In order to maintain confidentiality in a small community, she telephoned the GPs herself.