§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are now taken to seek to ensure that blood stocks are not contaminated with AIDS virus.
§ Mr. HayhoeSince 14 October 1985, all blood donations collected by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) have been tested for HTLV III antibody.
All untested stocks of blood and blood components have been recalled from hospitals by the NBTS. Where testing and reissue is impracticable, such stocks will not be used for transfusion purposes.
The Department has also revised its warning leaflet, now entitled "AIDS—important information for blood donors", and this is being distributed by the NBTS to all its donors individually. The leaflet re-emphasises that those in AIDS high-risk groups should not donate blood.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps have been taken since Dr. Mark Patterson's convictions in 1984 to seek to ensure that blood taken from donors is not misappropriated;
(2) what quantity of blood is held by the national blood transfusion services central and regional depots; and what steps are now taken to monitor its use.
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§ Mr. HayhoeThe national blood transfusion service (NBTS) is regionally organised; records are not held centrally of operational stock levels at regional transfusion centres or at hospital blood banks.
In March 1984, guidance was issued to health authorities on improving standards of record keeping and stock control for hospital blood banks. This complemented the existing arrangements within the NBTS itself. The guidance also required health authorities to review regularly the usage of blood within their hospitals to ensure its optimum use.
Issue of this guidance preceded Dr. Patterson's conviction in July 1984, and was intended to counter the weaknesses which this case disclosed.