WHAT TESTS ARE DONE ON DONATED BLOOD TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SAFE FOR TRANSFUSION?
The laboratory does tests for HIV, syphilis (an STD) and hepatitis B. The tests are the same as those used anywhere in the world. However, these tests may not show the early stages of infection. So people who may have been exposed to HIV infection must not donate blood. If the results of a test are positive, a donor is only informed if he or she requests the service to do so. People who think that they may have been infected by HIV must not use the Blood Transfusion Service as a place to find out if they are infected. This could be very dangerous to the patient who receives their blood. WHO SHOULD GIVE BLOOD? Please remember blood is required in order to save lives. Only healthy people who are not at risk from HIV and other transmissible infections should donate blood. If all the people in this category give blood regularly, our country will have sufficient supplies of blood which will greatly assist in saving lives. WHO SHOULD NOT GIVE BLOOD? Blood should not be given by people who ha
