Caution Urged In Use Of Proposed A.I.D.S. Test (Press, 6 March 1985)
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Summary: Caution Urged In Use Of Proposed A.I.D.S. Test (Press, 6 March 1985)
On 6 March 1985, Dr Graeme Woodfield, the head of Auckland’s Blood Transfusion Service, expressed concerns that proposed A.I.D.S. testing for blood donations could lead to unintended consequences. Specifically, he worried that the blood supply might be jeopardised by a surge of homosexual men seeking to donate blood in order to determine if they had been exposed to A.I.D.S., as the tests currently available do not reliably identify all exposed individuals. This could lead to potential contamination of the blood supply, particularly among at-risk individuals who may be concealing their sexual orientation. Dr Woodfield stated that the A.I.D.S. tests would not be implemented for blood donors until they were concurrently available for free in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, as he aimed to prevent the blood banks from being used primarily as testing sites for the disease. He highlighted the need for caution and emphasised that individuals who suspected they might have been exposed to the virus should refrain from donating blood. Furthermore, a US-based pharmaceutical company announced on the same day that a screening test for A.I.D.S. could be ready for use in New Zealand within approximately six weeks. The Abbott screening test received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, indicating a step towards enhanced monitoring for the virus. In response to these developments, Mr Bruce Burnett, co-ordinator of the A.I.D.S. support network, stressed that public education would be more effective than mere testing kits in ensuring a safe blood supply. He reiterated that it was crucial to alert individuals who might have been exposed to A.I.D.S. about the risks of blood donation. As New Zealand prepared for the opening of its first A.I.D.S. clinic in Auckland later that month, the focus on safety and the integrity of the blood supply remained a key priority amid the growing public health concerns associated with the disease.
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