Material for the PMO report, supporting the view that transfusion associated NANBH was rare, "relatively benign" and generally not serious Read more about Material for the PMO report, supporting the view that transfusion associated NANBH was rare, "relatively benign" and generally not serious
At a meeting of the SNBTS directors and haemophilia centre directors, Dr Forrester reported that in the US between 5 and 25 percent of transfusions led to the recipient contracting NANBH. It was said that the figure in the UK was approximately 2.5 percent and, in Scotland, that there were only one to five cases per annum. Read more about At a meeting of the SNBTS directors and haemophilia centre directors, Dr Forrester reported that in the US between 5 and 25 percent of transfusions led to the recipient contracting NANBH. It was said that the figure in the UK was approximately 2.5 percent and, in Scotland, that there were only one to five cases per annum.
The Working Party on Associated Hepatitis discussed the protocol for the anti-HBc/ALT screening trials. Read more about The Working Party on Associated Hepatitis discussed the protocol for the anti-HBc/ALT screening trials.
At the meeting of the regional transfusion directors, Dr Gunson explained that a study beginning with transfused patients had been discussed but was felt to be "costly, difficult and not practical." Read more about At the meeting of the regional transfusion directors, Dr Gunson explained that a study beginning with transfused patients had been discussed but was felt to be "costly, difficult and not practical."
Dr Contreras wrote to Dr Smithies on the decision of the UK Working Party on Transfusion-Associated Hepatitis (WPTTH) to not fund a follow-up study. She stated that WPTTH had funded surrogate studies to determine NANBH rates in donors, and Dr Contreras wanted a follow-up study, not for patient safety, but to use transmission rates as a 'defence against "panic" requests to start surrogate screening'. Read more about Dr Contreras wrote to Dr Smithies on the decision of the UK Working Party on Transfusion-Associated Hepatitis (WPTTH) to not fund a follow-up study. She stated that WPTTH had funded surrogate studies to determine NANBH rates in donors, and Dr Contreras wanted a follow-up study, not for patient safety, but to use transmission rates as a 'defence against "panic" requests to start surrogate screening'.
Dr Forrester stated in a letter that 'The position explicitly reached at the meeting [of UK Working Party on Transfusion-Associated Hepatitis] is to recommend research of no great significance or scientific interest because the prospect of research would serve to counter pressure from for example haemophiliacs and Haemophilia Directors to embark on an indirect and largely ineffective form of screening, which would also lose us a certain amount of perfectly harmless blood.' Read more about Dr Forrester stated in a letter that 'The position explicitly reached at the meeting [of UK Working Party on Transfusion-Associated Hepatitis] is to recommend research of no great significance or scientific interest because the prospect of research would serve to counter pressure from for example haemophiliacs and Haemophilia Directors to embark on an indirect and largely ineffective form of screening, which would also lose us a certain amount of perfectly harmless blood.'
At the UK Directors Working Party meeting t had been agreed that "Screening should not be introduced at present especially in view of ARC [American Red Cross] postponement of core test start-up and reports of chaos in ALT screening programme." Read more about At the UK Directors Working Party meeting t had been agreed that "Screening should not be introduced at present especially in view of ARC [American Red Cross] postponement of core test start-up and reports of chaos in ALT screening programme."
Dr Gunson was a proponent of the multi-centre study of Alanine Amino-transferase (ALT) and anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) for the screening of blood donations in 1986. Read more about Dr Gunson was a proponent of the multi-centre study of Alanine Amino-transferase (ALT) and anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) for the screening of blood donations in 1986.
Directors of Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service agreed that the UK Working Party on Transfusion Associated Hepatitis was the most appropriate body to pursue the implementation of surrogate testing. Read more about Directors of Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service agreed that the UK Working Party on Transfusion Associated Hepatitis was the most appropriate body to pursue the implementation of surrogate testing.
Regional Transfusion Directors' meeting recognised that "even if the incidence had reduced significantly since the last trial, because of self exclusion or for other reasons, the introduction of anti-HBc/ALT screening seemed very likely." Read more about Regional Transfusion Directors' meeting recognised that "even if the incidence had reduced significantly since the last trial, because of self exclusion or for other reasons, the introduction of anti-HBc/ALT screening seemed very likely."