Blood Donors to be informed if tested HIV

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Donors to be informed if tested HIV

ROLI SRIVASTAVA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2004 01:15:05 AM ]

HYDERABAD: Blood banks are now getting in touch with donors whose

blood is found to be infected with HIV.

Until recently, blood banks used to discard HIV-infected blood and

never bothered to inform donors about their HIV positive status.

But, now blood banks are contacting donors whose bloods tests

positive for HIV and asking them to go for a confirmatory test and

for voluntary counselling and testing centres of the Andhra Pradesh

State Aids Control Society (APSACS).

The Central government through a notification last year had allowed

blood banks to disclose a donor's HIV status. In June this year,

National Aids Control Organisation too issued strict guidelines

similar to the central directive. Officials of APSACS say that the

practise is being followed for almost three years now.

But, despite the rules and legislations, doctors say that blood

banks took a while to come to terms with the gravity of the

situation and the need for communicating the information to the

donors

Earlier, blood bank authorities used to absolve themselves of all

responsibility by discarding bottles of infected blood. Now, they

realise that the same donors may infect more people if they are not

informed of their HIV status, " said a doctor, adding that now most

of the banks are following the guidelines policy and some are even

keeping continuous surveillance of such donors.

During blood donation camps, voluntary donors are asked to fill up a

form with their complete address and contact numbers. The donors are

also informed that their blood will be tested for various ailments,

including HIV.

However, blood banks are restricted from breaking the news of a

donor's HIV positive status. They ask donors to visit them, where

they are told to go for another confirmatory and counselling. " We

inform them to discuss the matter with a counsellor.

We do not declare in the report that the person is HIV positive, "

said Dr K Rajyalakshmi, state secretary of the Indian Red Cross

Society. APSACS officials said that the blood banks are also

monitored by them and even by the Drug Control Authority that issues

licences to them. APSACS officials said that the blood banks are

also monitored by them and even by the Drug Control Authority that

issues licences to them.

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