       Document 0304
 DOCN  M9610304
 TI    Infectious disease testing for blood transfusions. NIH Consensus
       Development Panel on Infectious Disease Testing for Blood Transfusions.
 DT    9601
 SO    JAMA. 1995 Nov 1;274(17):1374-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96042065
 AB    OBJECTIVE--To provide physicians and other transfusion medicine
       professionals with a current consensus on infectious disease testing for
       blood transfusions. PARTICIPANTS--A nonfederal, nonadvocate, 12-member
       consensus panel representing the fields of hematology, infectious
       disease, transfusion medicine, epidemiology, and biostatistics and a
       public representative. In addition, 23 experts in hematology,
       cardiology, transfusion medicine, infectious disease, and epidemiology
       presented data to the consensus panel and a conference audience of 450.
       EVIDENCE--The literature was searched through MEDLINE and an extensive
       bibliography of references was provided to the panel and the conference
       audience. Experts prepared abstracts with relevant citations from the
       literature. Scientific evidence was given precedence over clinical
       anecdotal experience. CONSENSUS--The panel, answering predefined
       consensus questions, developed their conclusions based on the scientific
       evidence presented in open forum and the scientific literature.
       CONSENSUS STATEMENT--The panel composed a draft statement that was read
       in its entirety and circulated to the experts and the audience for
       comment. Thereafter, the panel resolved conflicting recommendations and
       released a revised statement at the end of the conference. The panel
       finalized the revisions within a few weeks after the conference.
       CONCLUSIONS--The serum alanine aminotransferase test should be
       discontinued as a surrogate marker for blood donors likely to transmit
       posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis infection since specific
       hepatitis C antibody testing has eliminated more than 85% of these
       cases. Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen testing should continue as
       it may prevent some cases of posttransfusion hepatitis B; it may also
       act as a surrogate marker for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
       infection in donors and may prevent a small number of cases of
       transfusion-transmitted HIV infection. Syphilis testing should continue
       until adequate data can determine its effect on the rarity of
       transfusion-transmitted syphilis. Vigilant public health surveillance is
       critical in responding to emerging infectious disease threats to the
       blood supply.
 DE    Alanine Aminotransferase/BLOOD  Blood Banks/*STANDARDS  *Blood Donors
       Blood Transfusion/*STANDARDS  Blood-Borne Pathogens  Communicable
       Disease Control/*STANDARDS  Hematology/STANDARDS  Hepatitis B Core
       Antigens/BLOOD  Hepatitis C Antibodies/BLOOD  Human  Safety  Syphilis
       Serodiagnosis  CONSENSUS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE  CONSENSUS DEVELOPMENT
       CONFERENCE, NIH  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

