Can my child get hepatitis or HIV from clotting factor treatments?
In the past, viruses like hepatitis A, B and C and HIV were passed from blood donors to people with hemophilia through factor treatments. Today, the risk of contracting these viruses through factor products is almost entirely eliminated by several advances, including screening of all blood donors for hepatitis and HIV; purification and treatment of all human blood products to kill viruses; and development of recombinant clotting factor products that have little or no human blood proteins. In addition, it is recommended that all children with hemophilia receive immunizations for hepatitis A and B. There are currently no immunizations available to guard against HIV and hepatitis C.
