Britain To Test For A.I.D.S. In 2m Donors (Press, 2 July 1985)
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Summary: Britain To Test For A.I.D.S. In 2m Donors (Press, 2 July 1985)
In a significant public health initiative, approximately two million blood donors in Britain will be subjected to testing for the A.I.D.S. virus starting in September 1985. This testing programme, reported by the “Guardian” newspaper, is projected to cost the transfusion services around £2 million, equivalent to about $5.5 million. The test being employed to detect A.I.D.S. antibodies was developed by Dr Richard Tedder from Middlesex Hospital and Professor Robin Weiss from the Institute of Cancer Research. It is important to note that the presence of antibodies does not imply that a donor is infectious or that they will inevitably develop A.I.D.S.; studies indicate that only about 10 per cent of individuals with antibodies actually go on to develop the disease. The Health Department has opted for a testing method produced by the British manufacturer Wellcome, believing it to be more accurate and user-friendly than available versions from the United States. Despite the anticipated benefits, there are considerable concerns regarding the accuracy of these tests, particularly the rate of false positives. Even with American tests boasting a 99 per cent accuracy rate, it is estimated that between 4,000 and 21,000 British donors could misdiagnose themselves as infected based on false positive results. For those who receive positive antibody outcomes after further verification, they will be advised about the risks of transmitting the infection through sexual intercourse, regardless of sexual orientation. This decision to implement testing follows alarming warnings from directors of haemophilia centres in the “British Medical Journal,” who indicated that individuals requiring extensive blood transfusions might face a risk of one in 20 of being infected with the A.I.D.S. virus. As of May 1985, the number of known A.I.D.S. patients in Britain had risen to 169, with fatalities reaching 78. This proactive measure represents a crucial step in addressing the growing public health crisis associated with A.I.D.S. in Britain.
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