Amplification assays for viral genomes are at present too expensive an
d cumbersome to be applied to individual blood donations. Through cons
tructing interesting pools of specimens, however, it may be possible t
o screen as a single process large numbers of units for several low pr
evalence viruses using relatively few tests. The preparation of the in
tersecting pools that would be required is explained in this paper. If
test sensitivity and specificity were adequate, the testing of these
pools would permit timely release of components that had the security
of genetic testing added to current serological screening programmes.
The method also makes screening for other viruses feasible.