Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Miami Herald - Thursday, March 14, 1985
Herald Staff
HEMOPHILIACS
PREGNANT WOMEN
PEOPLE younger than 17 years old or older that 85 years old
PEOPLE who weigh less than 100 pounds
INTRAVENOUS-drug abusers
ANYONE ever diagnosed with hepatitis
HAITIANS who entered the United States after 1977
PEOPLE with symptoms or signs of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Monday, the South Florida Blood Service began testing all donations of blood for blood antibodies to the AIDS virus HTLV-III.
It is not a diagnostic test, says Tom Dania, director of communications, "it only indicates exposure to the AIDS virus. A positive result could mean you were exposed to the virus. It doesn't mean you have it, but it is probably likely you were exposed."
He said results of the tests will not be released to the donor, since it is still no known just what the presence of those antibodies means -- whether the donor is vulnerable to AIDS or has been exposed and built up a resistance to the disease. Bad blood will be disposed of or used for research.
"We are still discouraging people in the high-risk group from giving blood just to find out if they have AIDS," Dania said. "This is just a way of safeguarding the recipient."
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