Dr Harris wrote to Professor Bloom in response to his letter detailing concerns that the screening of blood should be introduced as soon as possible. Dr Harris stated that he accepted HTLV-3 testing should be completed as soon as possible, but that the performance of testing kits were variable. He wrote that they should be properly tested before introduction into the BTS and that this approach was supported by members of the EAGA. Read more about Dr Harris wrote to Professor Bloom in response to his letter detailing concerns that the screening of blood should be introduced as soon as possible. Dr Harris stated that he accepted HTLV-3 testing should be completed as soon as possible, but that the performance of testing kits were variable. He wrote that they should be properly tested before introduction into the BTS and that this approach was supported by members of the EAGA.
Professor Bloom, Dr Forbes and Dr Rizza concluded in a letter to The British Medical Officer that three commercial test kits had been approved by the FDA and although there was a small risk of false positives it was felt to be unreasonable to delay testing until that possibility was eliminated. Read more about Professor Bloom, Dr Forbes and Dr Rizza concluded in a letter to The British Medical Officer that three commercial test kits had been approved by the FDA and although there was a small risk of false positives it was felt to be unreasonable to delay testing until that possibility was eliminated.
The chairman of the EAGA said in a meeting that while it was important to introduce a reliable screening test as soon as possible "an effective evaluation of the tests was essential and should not be rushed". Professor Bloom was the only person who was recorded as expressing concern regarding the delay of introducing a reliable screening test. Read more about The chairman of the EAGA said in a meeting that while it was important to introduce a reliable screening test as soon as possible "an effective evaluation of the tests was essential and should not be rushed". Professor Bloom was the only person who was recorded as expressing concern regarding the delay of introducing a reliable screening test.
Alun Williams wrote to Mr Harris and Ms McKessack, correcting John Patten's statement in Parliament that "we hope to have a screening test within a few weeks". Alun Williams stated: "It would be more accurate to say that we hope to begin evaluating screening tests within the next few weeks." Read more about Alun Williams wrote to Mr Harris and Ms McKessack, correcting John Patten's statement in Parliament that "we hope to have a screening test within a few weeks". Alun Williams stated: "It would be more accurate to say that we hope to begin evaluating screening tests within the next few weeks."
The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS Screening Tests Sub Group Report on the Introduction of a Test for Antibody to the AIDS Related Virus was published. Read more about The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS Screening Tests Sub Group Report on the Introduction of a Test for Antibody to the AIDS Related Virus was published.
Dr Tedder, Professor Weiss and Professor Adler confirmed that though their test worked reasonably well as a laboratory tool, adequate scaling up was still to be achieved if it was to be used. It was agreed that it would probably be necessary for the Blood Transfusion Service to go ahead and use the first successful test that became available. Read more about Dr Tedder, Professor Weiss and Professor Adler confirmed that though their test worked reasonably well as a laboratory tool, adequate scaling up was still to be achieved if it was to be used. It was agreed that it would probably be necessary for the Blood Transfusion Service to go ahead and use the first successful test that became available.
The Department of Health and Social Security maintained its stance on "firm plans to evaluate all the anti-HTLVIII kits that are marketed in the UK and this work will be started as soon as possible. An evaluation protocol is being devised and when it is ready all companies in the field will be given the opportunity to comment on it." Read more about The Department of Health and Social Security maintained its stance on "firm plans to evaluate all the anti-HTLVIII kits that are marketed in the UK and this work will be started as soon as possible. An evaluation protocol is being devised and when it is ready all companies in the field will be given the opportunity to comment on it."
A report on the results of the Food and Drug Administration evaluation of HTLV-3 antibody screening tests stated that a large number of false positive tests were liable to be produced, and underlined a need for there to be a comparative evaluation of the tests. Read more about A report on the results of the Food and Drug Administration evaluation of HTLV-3 antibody screening tests stated that a large number of false positive tests were liable to be produced, and underlined a need for there to be a comparative evaluation of the tests.
Dr Smithies said that the Department of Health was "taking all practical steps" to introduce HTLV-3 testing for people with haemophilia and also added that the evaluation was still at the preliminary stage of "arranging that all tests for antibody to HTLV-III should be evaluated in order that recommendation can be made of the most suitable to use in the blood transfusion services and also by the NHS.". Read more about Dr Smithies said that the Department of Health was "taking all practical steps" to introduce HTLV-3 testing for people with haemophilia and also added that the evaluation was still at the preliminary stage of "arranging that all tests for antibody to HTLV-III should be evaluated in order that recommendation can be made of the most suitable to use in the blood transfusion services and also by the NHS.".
Dr Gunson said in a Central Blood Laboratories Authority meeting that "if the United Kingdom needed to be converted for enzyme testing it would pose a serious problem for the continuance of RIA testing. It was therefore considered vital that a British test be developed." Read more about Dr Gunson said in a Central Blood Laboratories Authority meeting that "if the United Kingdom needed to be converted for enzyme testing it would pose a serious problem for the continuance of RIA testing. It was therefore considered vital that a British test be developed."