Page 10, Portland Observer, October 21, 1987
You Cannot Get AIDS by
Donating Blood
The common misconception of contracting AIDS by donating blood is
one that we must continually denounce, and one that has had a tremen­
dously negative effect on the availability of the blood donors. Furthermore,
every unit of donated blood is tested for the AIDS virus antibody; which
has made the blood supply virtually AIDS-free," according to Frans Pee-
toom, MD. PhD., Medical Director, Pacific Northwest Regional Blood
Services, American Red Cross.
"These are the facts: each donor is given their own blood donation
bag with its attached disposable needle. These sets come in sterile wrap­
ping from the factory and can be used only once. The needle is used for
that donor and, then, is discarded. There is no transfer of blood between
donors, nor between donor and the person collecting the blood. The stric­
test of safety standards are adhered to in the blood donation and testing
process. In the entire world nobody has been identified as contracting
AIDS from donating blood, and many millions of donations are made each
year," Dr. Peetoom went on to say.
In March of 1985, the AIDS anitbody screening test was implemented
by the American Red Cross. Since that time, the risk of AIDS infection
from blood transfusions has been greatly reduced and currently is estimated
to be one in a million transfusions.
Of the approximately 350,000 blood donations collected in the Pacific
Northwest Blood Services Region (Western Oregon and Southwestern
Washington) since initial implementation of the AIDS antibody test, 23
HIV-positive blood donations, or less than 0.01 percent, have been identi­
fied. Presence of the HIV antibody indicates exposure to the AIDS virus.
Donors of these units have been notified and permanently removed from
the blood donor rolls and their blood donations destroyed. Practically all
recipients of blood from these HIV antibody positive donors, which was
given before March of 1985, were notified and investigated in the Red Cross
Look Back Program.
Four transfusion-associated AIDS cases were reported in our blood
services region; additional cases may continue to occur in some patients
who were transfused and exposed to AIDS before 1985. Although there
will be a low incidence in the Pacific Northwest Region, it may be several
years before cases of transfusion-associated AIDS among pre-1985 blood
recipients will cease completly.
"Given the accuracy of the antibody test, we are now more in control
of the safety of the blood supply than ever before. The rare exceptions
of individuals who do not defer themselves from donating blood and may
I
2249
Avel G ordly, Associate Executive Secretary (Ptld); Asia Bennett,
N ational Executive Secretary (Philadelphia); and Ann Stever, Re-
Lincoln High School Classes of 47
The January and June, 1947, graduating classes of Lincoln High
School, Portland, OR, will have a 40-vear reunion Saturday, October 31,
with cocktails, dinner and dancing at the River Queen Restaurant on the
Portland waterfront Class members who have not been contacted are
asked to mail their names, addresses telephone numbers and, it apoh
cable, maiden names to Lincoln Hi - Class of 47 P.O. Box 06247, Portland
OR 97206.
gional Executive Secretary (Seattle) pause during a reception and
open house attended by over 100 people Sunday, O ctober 18, 1987.
Photo by Richard J. B row n
PSU Cabaret — Darcelle
Darcelle XV will present an hour of free entertainment on Wednesday,
October 28, at Noon in Portland State University's Parkway Commons
(first floor Smith Center, 1825 SW Broadway).
Experience the charm, artifice and humor of Portland's own female
impersonator in a performance just right for a pre-Halloween celebration.
For information on this and other Cabaret performances, call 464-4452.
1987 R J R E Y N O L D S T O B A C C O C O
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking
Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.
1/ mg "tar" 1.3 mg. nicotine av. per cigarette by FTC method.
P hlebotom ist David Vangrusven (L) attends Aleem Shabaaz, M in o ­
rity O utreach S pecialist (R) as Aleem donates blood at the Oregon
Trail C hapter Blood Drive.
carry AIDS antibodies are now recognized by the test, and exposure to
patients is avoided," said Dr. Peetoom.
Considerable progress has been made in educating the public, specifi­
cally those in high-risk groups, to refrain from donating blood.
High-Risk Groups Include:
• Any male who has had sex with another male since 1977;
• People from Haiti, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and
Zaire who came to the US after 1977;
• Present and past users of illicit intravenous drugs;
• Sexual partner of the above persons at increased risk of AIDS;
• Male and female prostitutes (active since 1977) and sexual partners
(within the last six months) of prostitutes
Since the discovery that AIDS is a blood-borne disease the Red Cross
has made every effort to reduce the likelihood of transmission by relying
on healthy volunteer blood donors, implementing screening guidelines and
putting AIDS antibody tests in place as soon as they have become licensed
and available.
Autologous Donations
"One option available to certain qualifying individuals requiring a blood
transfusion for an elective surgery is an autologous donation — one that
uses the patient's own blood. Using your own blood virtually eliminates
the risks associated with blood transfusions; AIDS, hepatitis, antibodies,
immunologic reactions," said Dr. Peetoom.
With a physician's approval and foresight, a patient can usually store
up to one pint per week for four to six weeks piior to surgery. The six-week
limitation arises because of the restriction on how long blood can be stored
fresh. Although, in some instances, the more expensive frozen blood
storage may overcome this limitation. Patients should contact their phy­
sician for more information about this option. Autologous blood donations
are not recommended to be stored for speculative blood banking "just in
case."
Currently, an estimated 50 autologous donors are scheduled per week
in the Portland area to donate their blood for upcoming elective surgeries.
Additional Red Cross autologous donation sites have been established in
Medford, Roseburg and Coos Bay.
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Now, more than ever, healthy volunteer blood donors are needed to
combat the fear about AIDS. There is absolutely no risk o f getting
AIDS fro m donating blood. We depend on their generosity through
blood donations. And we certainly need everyone to be informed and edu­
cated with the facts about this disease; how AIDS is spread, how it is not
spread and what precautions to follow to avoid getting or ¡spreading the
disease," concluded Dr. Peetoom.
Red Cross Resources
The American Red Cross would like to help spread facts, not fear,
about AIDS to the community. A Red Cross AIDS Response Line has
been established to confidentially and honestly answer questions about
AIDS. An AIDS Worksite Training Program is available through Red
Cross to businesses in the Portland area. An AIDS Prevention Program
for Youth is being introduced by Red Cross throughout the country. An
AIDS Education for Minorities Program focuses primarily of Black and
Hispanic audiences (materials available in Spanish). A comprehensive
offering of brochures, videos and materials is available at minimal cost.
For more information, call the American Red Cross, Oregon Trail Chap­
ter, at (503) 284 1234 x179.