Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - Thursday, 5 October 1989
The blood bank is one of the country's most aggressive in guarding against AIDS-infected donors and intends to go further in ensuring blood donations are free of the AIDS virus.
"We don't want people with AIDS or people at high risk for AIDS donating blood," said Ken Wiebeck, a spokesman. "It's not right, it's not safe. The safety of the public is of primary importance." Wiebeck said donors will be advised their names will be provided to the Hillsborough County Health Department if tests for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, are positive. In addition, if tests on young donors -- those 17 and 18 -- are positive, the blood bank will notify their parents or guardian.
Wiebeck said donors will be asked to sign forms acknowledging they were advised of the policy. Dr. Don Kwalick, director of the Hillsborough County Health Department, said his employees will follow the same procedures used in tracing contacts of patients with other sexually transmitted diseases.
Kwalick said names received from the blood bank will be used as one source of information in tracing contacts. He said laws allow the department to include AIDS patients in the tracing, but state Health and Rehabilitative Services officials must first give approval. The Health Department offers anonymous, confidential AIDS testing.
Blood bank officials say they want to ensure blood isn't infected with the virus. They said the policy could frighten away potential donors, but hope it will discourage people from using donations as a way to get a free, confidential AIDS tests.
"Passing along names would scare people," said Chuck Kuehn, executive director of the Tampa AIDS Network. "They would have achieved their purpose, but I don't agree with their tactics."
Copyright (c) 1989/UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, UPI, 1510 H St. N.W. Washington DC 20005.
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