The Blood Transfusion Service Board will begin a HIV screening programme on Monday for people who have been exposed to the risk of HIV infection as a result of the transfusion of blood or other blood products produced prior to the introduction of HIV screening of blood donations in 1985.
The programme will be publicised in the national press. GPs around the State have already received information on the service and public health workers have been briefed by the BTSB. A public helpline will be in operation 24 hours a day starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, telephone number 1800 200409. The BTSB points out that the vast majority of people who have been given a transfusion of blood or received blood products will not have been infected with HIV. HIV screening of donations in Ireland has been in place from October 17th, 1985.
People transfused with blood or blood products between January 1st, 1981 and April 30th, 1986, are the primary focus of this testing programme. The following people will be invited to go to their GP to discuss HIV screening:
People who received red cell, platelet or plasma/plasma product transfusions up to the end of 1985;
People who received frozen plasma products up to the end of May 1987;
People who received freeze-dried plasma up to December 1990;
People who received non-heat-treated fibrinogen or coagulation concentrates prior to October 1986.