       Document 0677
 DOCN  M9630677
 TI    Management of blood donors whose donations are repeatedly falsely
       positive by the HIV antibody screening test.
 DT    9603
 AU    Atrah HI; Parry JV; Gough D; Tosswill J; Ala FA; West Midlands Regional
       Blood Transfusion Service, Edgbaston,; Birmingham.
 SO    J Clin Pathol. 1995 Sep;48(9):865-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96096278
 AB    Since 1985, over 1,800,000 donations have been screened by the West
       Midlands Regional Blood Transfusion Service for antibody to HIV. Twelve
       regular donors gave three or more donations that were alternatingly
       positive and negative in the screening test, but not confirmed to be HIV
       positive by supplementary testing. Extensive investigation of six of
       these donors, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), failed to
       confirm HIV infection. The donors were reassured but, nevertheless,
       retired to comply with the guidelines of the National Blood Transfusion
       Service. These findings indicate that, for UK donors, ambiguous
       serological findings are unlikely to reflect HIV infection. On the rare
       occasions where serological results are particularly ambiguous, PCR
       testing of donors' blood may be helpful.
 DE    Adult  *AIDS Serodiagnosis  *Blood Donors  False Positive Reactions
       Female  Human  HIV Seropositivity/*DIAGNOSIS  Male  *Mass Screening
       Middle Age  Polymerase Chain Reaction  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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

