Subscribe to Search results

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.'

Published on:

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'.

Published on:


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."

Published on:

The Working Party on Associated Hepatitis discussed the protocol for the anti-HBc/ALT screening trials.

Published on:


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.

Published on:

Material for the PMO report, supporting the view that transfusion associated NANBH was rare, "relatively benign" and generally not serious

Published on:

Dr Forrester wrote to Dr Moir seeking agreement in principle of CSO that funding for the scottish component of a research project can be sought

Published on:

Dr Moir wrote to Dr Forrester expressing reservations against providing funding for a research project involving one Scottish Transfusion Centre

Published on:

Dr Gunson wrote that it was incorrect that "no Scottish Centre was now being asked to participate" in the multi-centre study and that he was "dismayed" to read SNBT would be applying for funding for surrogate testing from 1 April 1988, as he had understood that "Scotland would not take unilateral action" in introducing surrogate testing without consultation with regional transfusion directors in England and Wales

Published on:

Professor Cash wrote to Dr Gunson, suggesting he should not take the content of the minutes in relation to surrogate testing "too seriously at this stage" as "the results of the UK study are unlikely to have a material affect [sic] on future operational practice."

Published on:


De Kernoff and Dr Colvin stated in a paper for the Haemophilia Working Party that the acute NANBH, appeared generally mild, though might sometimes be fatal, but the chronic NANBH seemed "very possible that there may be serious long-term sequelae"

Published on:

In oral evidence given to the Inquiry, Dr Morris McClelland explained that he could not recall whether the SNBTS guidelines regarding surrogate testing were adhered to and he followed "National decision making" in reference to surrogate testing in Northern Ireland.

Published on:

Dr Scott in an internal minute written to Dr McIntyre believed "we should prevent the BTS from doing a full scale introduction" of surrogate testing.

Published on:

Dr Gunson completed a funding application for a multi-centre study into surrogate testing and ALT.

Published on:

A letter published in the The Lance by Dr Contreras and colleagues at the North London Blood Transfusion Centre commented that if "the true incidence of post-transfusion NANB hepatitis and its serious clinical sequelae are at a much lower level than reported from the USA, then screening of donations to reduce the incidence of NANB hepatitis may not be cost effective in the UK".

Published on:

The Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology, which included Dr Gunson, published a report addressing surrogate screening for NANBH.

Published on:

Dr Gunson sent the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts' report on Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology, to Dr Smithies DHSS).

Published on:


Dr Harris summarised the views expressed at the meeting of the Advisory Committee on National Blood Transfusion Service that if testing was introduced it should be national; that research on baseline data would be carried out; and that the position would be monitored in the UK and abroad.

Published on:

Dr Contreras questioned the decision of Medicines Division to include a statement in commercial plasma packaging that products have been tested for ALT. Argued "screening plasma donations for ALT is totally absurd since any hypothetical benefit obtained by excluding donations with high ALT is lost by pooling".

Published on:

Dr Rotbalt wrote to Dr Contreras that commercial companies were free to make any testing on their donors, including ALT testing.

Published on: