§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the number of laboratories designated and equipped to carry out investigations at the appropriate level of containment into acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. The precautions advocated in the interim guidelines on AIDS recently produced by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens broadly equate to those already in force in clinical laboratories for dealing with hepatitis B virus. The guidelines do not impose a requirement on health authorities to designate laboratories for the examination of AIDS specimens. However the ACDP suggested that in view of the probable increase in the amount of work involving AIDS patients there may be operational advantages to health authorities in concentrating this at specific laboratories.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of current knowledge regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome contaminated blood supplies, he is satisfied that adequate amounts of uncomtaminated blood are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are satisfied that all practicable steps are being taken to safeguard blood supplies in the light of current medical knowledge on AIDS. We are strengthening our efforts to dissuade persons in the AIDS high-risk groups from donating blood, and our revised leaflet "AIDS—Important New Advice for Blood Donors" will be distributed individually to all donors.
524WTests to screen blood donations for the HTLV III antibody are being developed, but much evaluation work remains to be done before such a test could be used routinely.