title: Transfusion transmitted infectious diseases.
abstract: The best means to reduce transfusion-transmitted infections is to start with volunteer, unpressured, altruistic blood donors. Careful screening and use of a number of sensitive tests to detect asymptomatic carriers of various infections make blood transfusion quite safe today. However, there will never be a zero risk blood supply. Therefore, additional efforts should be made to transfuse patients appropriately as we seek safer alternatives to traditional transfusions. In the meantime, we should congratulate ourselves for having a very safe and good blood supply, which can help so many patients.
authors.affiliation: Sacramento Medical Foundation Blood Center.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction