title: The provision of safe blood--policy issues in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus transmission.
abstract: The AIDS epidemic has focused attention on the constraints and deficiencies present in many blood transfusion services in the developing world. We discuss a variety of options for reducing transfusion-related HIV transmission, and suggest how new transfusion strategies may be implemented. We show that a transfusion service cannot rely solely on the screening of donor blood for anti-HIV antibodies and that a more comprehensive approach is needed. Important components of this approach include donor selection and improved clinical practice, in which blood and blood products are prescribed only when really necessary.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Task Force, EEC, Brussels.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sondag-Thull
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fransen
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000592:standards*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D015483:HIV Antibodies