Serum Tested For A.I.D.S. (Press, 28 July 1984)

On 28 July 1984, concerns emerged over the potential contamination of Factor 8, a blood coagulant used by haemophiliacs, with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The situation arose when it was discovered that a batch of 654 vials of Factor 8, distributed over a year ago, may have been used by between 200 to 400 patients along the eastern coast of Australia. Dr Neville McCarthy from the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory, which produces Factor 8, stated that samples from both the distributed batch and an unused batch have been sent to the United States for testing to determine any contamination. The controversy began when a homosexual man who was an AIDS carrier donated blood to the Red Cross in Sydney. This blood was subsequently used in a transfusion for another individual, who was later diagnosed with AIDS. The remaining blood from this donor was processed along with that of other donors to create Factor 8. Despite the alarming news, Dr R. J. Sawer, a haemotology expert at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, attempted to calm fears by asserting that the risk of infection from Factor 8 was considered negligible. He pointed out that in the United States, where the use of Factor 8 from a large donor pool had been re-established, only 10 out of 6000 haemophiliacs had contracted AIDS. This statistic led to lifting a previous ban on using Factor 8 made from a broader group of donors due to the perceived low risk. Health authorities have since tracked down all individuals who might have been affected by the transfusion from the potentially contaminated blood. Among these was a New South Wales man who was critically ill in a hospital with AIDS. He is one of three individuals in the state known to have received direct transfusions derived from the implicated blood. The other two are currently awaiting test results to determine if they have contracted the virus. AIDS, a disease that severely weakens the immune system and leaves individuals vulnerable to various infections, has become a significant public health concern, prompting a swift response from healthcare authorities as they work to mitigate the risks associated with blood transfusions and ensure the safety of haemophiliacs relying on Factor 8. The outcome of the ongoing tests and the assessment of the risks of contamination will be crucial in informing patients and health professionals in the coming weeks.

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