How Safe Is Safe Enough? New Infections and the U.S. Blood Supply
Authors: S. Jody Heymann, Timothy F. Brewer, Harvey V. Fineberg, Mary E. Wilson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1992)

Editorial1 October 1992How Safe Is Safe Enough? New Infections and the U.S. Blood SupplyS. Jody Heymann, MD, PhD, Timothy F. Brewer, MD, MPH, Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD, Mary E. Wilson, MDS. Jody Heymann, MD, PhDSearch for more papers by this author, Timothy F. Brewer, MD, MPHSearch for more papers by this author, Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhDSearch for more papers by this author, Mary E. Wilson, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-117-7-612 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptRecently, 14 patients who were negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1 and 2 were found to have T-lymphocytopenia. The possibility has been raised that at least one of the cases may be associated with retroviral particles (1, 2). These developments have raised questions about the safety of the U.S. blood supply and current transfusion practices.While the uncertainty about the cause of the reported cases of idiopathic immunodeficiency is being resolved, physicians and patients must continue to make difficult decisions about transfusions. We need to be able to answer these questions: If the cause is infectious and the...References1. Unexplained CD4+ T-lymphocyte depletion in persons without evident HIV infection-United States. MMWR 1992;41:541-5. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. Update: CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia in persons without evident HIV infection-United States. MMWR. 1992;41:578-9. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. CummingWallaceSchorrDodd PEJR. Exposure of patients to human immunodeficiency virus through the transfusion of blood components that test antibody negative. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:941-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. SurgenorWallaceHaoChapman DESR. 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Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byIntraoperative salvage in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: An analysis of cost and benefitOn the need for improved transfusion indicators in cardiac surgeryHIV Testing in Blood BanksReplyThe infectious risks of transfusions in the United States: A decision-analytic approachAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome 1 October 1992Volume 117, Issue 7Page: 612-614KeywordsBloodBlood transfusionHIVHealth care policyImmunodeficienciesInfectious diseasesPrevention, policy, and public healthSafety Issue Published: 1 October 1992 PDF downloadLoading ...