Pharmaceutical companies planning to market AIDS screening tests in the UK were notified that the Department of Health and Social Security proposed to set up an evaluation programme for investigating the performance of screening test systems. Read more about Pharmaceutical companies planning to market AIDS screening tests in the UK were notified that the Department of Health and Social Security proposed to set up an evaluation programme for investigating the performance of screening test systems.
There were delays owing to changes in direction for screening testing kits from RIA to ELISA test kits following the onboarding of Wellcome. Dr Brian McClelland wrote to Wellcome to express deep concern about the lack of test kits being made available. He emphasised that urgency was required and it was better to have some testing in place rather than none at all. Read more about There were delays owing to changes in direction for screening testing kits from RIA to ELISA test kits following the onboarding of Wellcome. Dr Brian McClelland wrote to Wellcome to express deep concern about the lack of test kits being made available. He emphasised that urgency was required and it was better to have some testing in place rather than none at all.
Regional transfusion directors in Scotland had contemplated introducing an American test in the absence of progress toward a UK choice until the SHHD put a stop to that because they had given assurances to the DHSS that Scotland would follow its lead. Read more about Regional transfusion directors in Scotland had contemplated introducing an American test in the absence of progress toward a UK choice until the SHHD put a stop to that because they had given assurances to the DHSS that Scotland would follow its lead.
Dr Brian McClelland stated he wished there to be "no doubt of the extreme pressure being placed on the transfusion services to ensure that no 'high risk donors' donate blood - a task which is essentially quite impossible unless some form of screening test is available." Read more about Dr Brian McClelland stated he wished there to be "no doubt of the extreme pressure being placed on the transfusion services to ensure that no 'high risk donors' donate blood - a task which is essentially quite impossible unless some form of screening test is available."
Professor Tedder and his colleagues were already thinking that they needed to get away from RIA to EIA. Read more about Professor Tedder and his colleagues were already thinking that they needed to get away from RIA to EIA.
The Department of Health and Social Security internally agreed that the Tedder/Weiss test was the "most sensitive RIA for HTLV-III presently available". Read more about The Department of Health and Social Security internally agreed that the Tedder/Weiss test was the "most sensitive RIA for HTLV-III presently available".
Wellcome sub-contracted Porton Down to produce the antigen. This could be used by the BPL to make screening tests for RTCs. Read more about Wellcome sub-contracted Porton Down to produce the antigen. This could be used by the BPL to make screening tests for RTCs.
In a memo, Mr Williams of the Department of Health and Social Security drew attention to three incidents of UK blood being given by donors found positive by the screening test for HTLV III. He also added: "These incidents reinforce the current policy of the Department....(ii) developing a screening test and carrying out pilot studies of the test (in North London Transfusion Centre shortly)". Read more about In a memo, Mr Williams of the Department of Health and Social Security drew attention to three incidents of UK blood being given by donors found positive by the screening test for HTLV III. He also added: "These incidents reinforce the current policy of the Department....(ii) developing a screening test and carrying out pilot studies of the test (in North London Transfusion Centre shortly)".
An article in The Guardian reported that a blood donor had passed the AIDS virus to three people - a mother, a baby, a 78-year-old man in the Brighton area. Read more about An article in The Guardian reported that a blood donor had passed the AIDS virus to three people - a mother, a baby, a 78-year-old man in the Brighton area.
Professor Weiss wrote in his statement that "we did not begin to develop an ELISA. Wellcome Diagnostics Ltd proposed to substitute ELISA for RIA in a screening test based on the competition format HIV antibody test that we had developed as a research tool, and Dr Tedder and I readily agreed." Read more about Professor Weiss wrote in his statement that "we did not begin to develop an ELISA. Wellcome Diagnostics Ltd proposed to substitute ELISA for RIA in a screening test based on the competition format HIV antibody test that we had developed as a research tool, and Dr Tedder and I readily agreed."