Subscribe to Search results

In a memo to the Economic Advisers' Office, John Canavan requested an update on the cost/benefit analysis as experts now seemed to think that advances in knowledge about the anti-HCV tests and the means of confirming the results made it very difficult to resist the introduction of screening, and a number of countries had already done so.

Published on:

Dr Rejman wrote that there was a lack of good data but that the Ortho and Abbott ELISA tests were not very specific when used prospectively in screening donors. His view was that screening of blood donations for Hepatitis C appeared to be of benefit to recipients but could pose major problems to donors given falsely positive results.

Published on:

Dr Gunson wrote to Dr Metters suggesting that the next ACVSB meeting (which had been scheduled for October) should take place in mid November after the next Ortho Hepatitis C Symposium.

Published on:

Dr Metters expressed concern about the resource consequences if the ACVSB were to recommend introducing Hepatitis C screening for all blood donations.

Published on:

The minister was told of the ACVSB's recommendation by a minute, with the indication that a full submission would be provided shortly.

Published on:

Dr Metters stated that if the Ortho symposium produced any significant new information there would still be time to take it into account in preparation for testing in the NBTS.

Published on:

Dr Metters stated that Professor Zuckerman has said "at least 30% of such cases could be avoided, possibly more."

Published on:

Dr Mortimer wrote to Dr Rejman and raised concerns about who would do and fund the confirmatory RIBA and PCR tests required for the implementation of the screening programme, suggesting that "Failure to make adequate provision for confirmatory testing would seem to me to call the screening programme into question."

Published on:

There was concern about the funding implications of testing, even to the extent that a minute from Mark Fuller said that delay "can only help".

Published on:

Dr Gunson said: "I should say that, despite the concerns expressed (in particular by Dr Contreras at the North London RTC), this approach gave rise to no serious difficulties in practice, and I do not believe that it had any consequences for the implementation date eventually achieved."

Published on:

Dr Pickles wrote to John Canavan: "Dr Gunson has been in touch with all the RTCs about starting dates for HCV testing. There are all sorts of problems still, eg exact choice of test, supplies of this, confirmatory testing arrangements, training etc etc."

Published on:

Dr Gunson stated that he doubted "whether the Newcastle and Glasgow Centres have the laboratory capability to carry out the additional work now proposed."

Published on:

The minister was informed that it was unlikely that routine screening could be introduced before 1 April 1991. In fact, the date of introduction slipped from April to July to September.

Published on:

Dr Gunson informed the Department of Health: "the other major competitor company feels disadvantaged, and has also caused problems in Scotland."

Published on:

Dr Gunson included a briefing note in case of press inquiries, which stressed the importance of selecting tests with proven reliability.

Published on:

The Central Blood Laboratories Authority Sub-Committee meeting minutes record that "Members agreed it was important for proper evaluation of the Ortho and Abbott 1&2 tests to be carried out before RTCs decided which test they would adopt." The anticipated commencement date remained 1 July 1991.

Published on:

Dr Gunson presented the preliminary report on the UKBTS study of surrogate and Chiron testing which noted: "The Chiron test had been used in first time recipients of Factor 8Y. Preliminary results had shown no positives, while most recipients of earlier concentrates were Chiron positive. Further study of stored haemophiliac sera was advocated."

Published on:

Dr Contreras and Dr Barbara warned that contacting and counselling affected donors would be "an enormous and costly undertaking", that using an assay test that took three hours would be logistically difficult, and that a confirmatory assay was still required.

Published on:

Dr Mitchell reported on the Abbott Symposium and presented US guidelines on the implementation of anti-HCV testing.

Published on:

Dr Peter Jones wrote to the Committee on Safety of Medicines setting out his argument for Armour materials to be withheld.

Published on: