Transfusion and HIV.

Abstract

Over a decade has passed since the first cases of AIDS were reported in hemophiliacs and transfusion recipients. Studies published over the past year offer an increasingly clear understanding of the extent of the early transfusion-associated AIDS epidemic, and of the effectiveness of progressive donor screening measures in safeguarding the blood supply from HIV. Although a number of recent studies have confirmed that the residual risk of HIV infection from blood and blood components is very small, effort continues toward development of new screening tests and viral inactivation procedures. Deciding whether these procedures warrant implementation will be a major challenge in the upcoming years.