§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 December 1993,Official Report, column 811, whether the screening tests required for blood or plasma collected overseas for processing into blood products to be imported are conducted in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SackvilleIt is a requirement throughout the European Community that all plasma donations used in the manufacture of blood products marketed in the European Community must be screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, 529W HIV 1 and HIV 2. Such testing is performed in the country of origin. For all products which are to be marketed in the United Kingdom, however, samples of plasma pools are submitted for independent testing in the United Kingdom by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.