HIV TRANSMISSION BY SERONEGATIVE BLOOD COMPONENTS - REPORT OF 2 PROBABLE CASES

HIV seroconversion was reported in 2 haemophiliacs after having correc tive orthopaedic surgery. They received solvent-detergent/heat-treated factor VIII concentrate, HIV-seronegative cryoprecipitate and fresh f rozen plasma during the course of surgery. HIV seroconversion was foun d on days 31 and 71 after surgery. It is highly probable that the infe ctions were acquired by transfusions of seronegative blood components. In countries with a relatively low prevalence of HIV infection, trans mission of HIV by transfusion of derivatives of seronegative blood is occasionally reported as a rare complication of blood transfusion [1-3 ]. In Thailand the prevalence of HIV infection and the incidence of ne w infections in the general population and in blood donors has recentl y increased dramatically (fig. 1) [4-5]. As a result of these componen ts prepared from HIV-seronegative blood donations pose a significant h azard to recipients because of the risk of viraemia during the 'window period' of HIV infection. Here we report HIV infection in 2 haemophil ia patients treated with HIV-seronegative (using Fujirebio agglutinati on or second-generation Abbott ELISA) cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma in 1991, prepared locally from single-unit donations. All dono rs were voluntary. Anti-HIV was tested in every unit of donor blood be fore processing to blood components. Although not proven, it is highly probable that the infections were acquired by transfusions of seroneg ative blood components.