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

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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

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

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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

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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."

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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"

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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.

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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.

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

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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".

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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.

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

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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.

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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".

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

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Dr Contreras expressed further concerns in her letter to Dr Rotblat saying that inclusion of ALT testing information on commercial products may lead to these products considered superior against those not ALT tested, while there is no evidence for any difference.

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Dr Forrester suggested that the development to state that the donations had been tested for ALT commercial companies, could lead haemophilia clinicians and SNBTS directors to put pressure on the SHHD to agree to the introduction of surrogate screening.

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Dr Fraser expressed disappointment in a response to Professor Cash, particularly in light of his understanding that it had been agreed at the 10 June 1987 SNBTS Directors' meeting that there was "a need for synchrony with England and Wales."

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Professor Cash stated that the SNBTS did not wish and currently had no intention of introducing NANBH surrogate testing unilaterally

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There was disappointment about a letter published in the Lancet to which all the Scottish Directors were signatories on the subject of anti-HBc and ALT Screening of all donations and that unilateral action had been taken.

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