Screening blood products for HTLV-I: what is the best approach?
A recent concern for disease transmission by blood transfusion is T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).  This virus is endemic in Japan, the Caribbean basin, subsaharan Africa, and, to a lesser extent, the southeastern United States and parts of Central and South America.  HTLV-I, which has been shown to be transmitted via transfusion, is associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and certain degenerative neurological disorders.  Antibodies to HTLV-I, an indicator of exposure to the virus, have been demonstrated in 0.025% of healthy U.S. donors.  This study, using the Decision Tree Model, presents an approach to a donor screening policy which should be cost-effective and yet ensure a safe blood supply.
Vesilind
G W
GW
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC  27710.
Koepke
J A
JA
DesHarnais
G R
GR
D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans