CHANGES IN INTENTION TO DONATE BLOOD UNDER A HYPOTHETICAL CONDITION OF REDUCED CONFIDENTIALITY

Lawsuits related to transfusion-associated human immunodeficiency viru s infections have increasingly resulted in requests for the release of confidential information about volunteer blood donors. Concern that l oss of confidentiality might change blood donor behavior led to a surv ey of donors at collection sites within an American Red Cross Blood Se rvices Region. Of the 361 respondents, 50.3 percent (181) indicated re duced intent to provide accurate medical and personal history informat ion under conditions of reduced confidentiality. Ten percent (34) indi cated that they were not sure whether they would or would not donate b lood in the future under this condition. The results indicate that the possibility of release of donors' medical and personal information ma y have a negative effect on the safety and adequacy of the nation's vo lunteer blood supply.