"Review Demanded on Canadian Blood"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"Review Demanded on Canadian Blood"

Science (12/18/92) Vol. 258, No. 5090, P. 1878
Holden, Constance

Abstract: A public inquiry has been requested into why some 1,000 Canadians (730 of them hemophiliacs) contracted HIV from tainted blood and blood products in the past decade. Canada's blood supply is currently deemed one of the safest in the world, but critics like the Canadian Hemophilia Society claim that health officials moved too slowly in implementing both HIV screening programs and procedures to treat blood products used by hemophiliacs. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an HIV screening procedure in March 1985 and put it into effect almost immediately, the Canadian Red Cross took eight months to establish a nationwide screening program. During that time, 50 Canadians became infected with HIV from contaminated blood transfusions. Also, the government recommended in November 1984 that all products used by hemophiliacs be heat-treated to destroy HIV, but it took eight months to fully institute that program, during which time untreated products continued to be used. The delays were partially blamed on the bureaucracy of the Canadian Blood Committee and the Red Cross' fear that speaking of AIDS would scare off potential donors. Last year, the committee was finally replaced by what the government promises will be a faster-acting body, the Canadian Blood Agency. However, critics believe that move does not go far enough. Therefore, a government committee is considering a full scale investigation into the Canadian blood management system. Health officials are opposing the idea, insisting that there was no negligence.

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