Aa
any testing for hiv-1 type O?
i went to do donate blood because i have hemocromatosis and the people wont use my blood cause i lived in nigeria...has this subtype O hit the United States yet or is it still only affecting people in west africa? do u have to have a specific test to find out if u have it?
I don't get what exactly will you "continue to once a month", hopefully not test for HIV?
But I can tell you that the FDA recommendations will probably be revised in the nearest future, once the Bio-Rad test is implemented. I can tell you that the last time I donated - about 6 months ago - I don't remember seeing the Group O question, so it looks like the NYBC is using the new machine already. It's only a matter of short time until everyone else catches up...
But I can tell you that the FDA recommendations will probably be revised in the nearest future, once the Bio-Rad test is implemented. I can tell you that the last time I donated - about 6 months ago - I don't remember seeing the Group O question, so it looks like the NYBC is using the new machine already. It's only a matter of short time until everyone else catches up...
thanks for getting back to me...alot more comforting knowing u all have good info about this. i realized theres no point to worry, i spoke with a person that works there and they said most africans dont go to blood banks, and people cant use blood from the ones from certain countries anyways. better to be safe and continue knowing my blood is tossed and will continue to once a month then to give anyone something...anyways take care all of u and god bless
"Let me go back and review the history of this. The questions that are
asked in the donor questionnaire are, “Were you born in or have you lived in, or have
you traveled to any African countries since 1977?” “In your travel did you receive a
transfusion or have you had sexual contact with anyone who was born or lived in an
African country since 1977.” These questions from the 1996 memorandum to blood
establishments were an interim measure designed to reduce the risks of HIV-1 group O
transmission by blood and blood products, pending the licensure of tests kits specifically
labeled for detection of antibodies to HIV-1 Group O viruses. In August 2003, as I
mentioned earlier, FDA licensed the Bio-Rad HIV-1, HIV-2 +O assay for donor
screening. That is the first donor screening test labeled as sensitive for detection of
antibodies to HIV-1 Group O. Until recently the lack of automation for the test had
precluded its implementation as a screening test for donated blood and plasma.
However, FDA recently approved the use of this Group O sensitive EIA on the semi-
automated Ortho Summit System. So we believe that more wide spread use of this
highly sensitive test that is also labeled as sensitive for antibodies to Group O will soon
occur." etc.
That is from an FDA meeting last summer. I don't know what has happened since, but I doubt that everything has been adjusted this fast...
asked in the donor questionnaire are, “Were you born in or have you lived in, or have
you traveled to any African countries since 1977?” “In your travel did you receive a
transfusion or have you had sexual contact with anyone who was born or lived in an
African country since 1977.” These questions from the 1996 memorandum to blood
establishments were an interim measure designed to reduce the risks of HIV-1 group O
transmission by blood and blood products, pending the licensure of tests kits specifically
labeled for detection of antibodies to HIV-1 Group O viruses. In August 2003, as I
mentioned earlier, FDA licensed the Bio-Rad HIV-1, HIV-2 +O assay for donor
screening. That is the first donor screening test labeled as sensitive for detection of
antibodies to HIV-1 Group O. Until recently the lack of automation for the test had
precluded its implementation as a screening test for donated blood and plasma.
However, FDA recently approved the use of this Group O sensitive EIA on the semi-
automated Ortho Summit System. So we believe that more wide spread use of this
highly sensitive test that is also labeled as sensitive for antibodies to Group O will soon
occur." etc.
That is from an FDA meeting last summer. I don't know what has happened since, but I doubt that everything has been adjusted this fast...
Maybe they do - I don't know.
However the question is about blood banks. Blood banks don't use the same exact tests that clinics use, as far as I understand. There has to be some sort of automation involved.
However the question is about blood banks. Blood banks don't use the same exact tests that clinics use, as far as I understand. There has to be some sort of automation involved.
A Bio-Rad test is the only one I know of that is specifically approved for screening blood donors for Group O. Until this test is implemented in your blood bank, it will not accept blood from those who lived in West Africa, just to be extra safe. That is my understanding of the issue.
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