What Measures are Taken to Ensure the Safety of the Blood Supply?
The nation's blood supply is safer than it has ever been. The risk of infectious disease transmission has been nearly eliminated, thanks to multiple safeguards, including:

• volunteer donors - studies prove that community volunteers are the safest source of blood for transfusions;
• a comprehensive evaluation of each donor's medical and social history to exclude donors who participate in activities known to increase their risk of infections. Strict confidentiality, as well as the absence of incentives or pressure to donate, encourage honest answers and deferral of potential donors with possible health risks;
• a physical examination of the donor, including a check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and a test for red cell concentration. Donors must meet prescribed medical requirements before a unit of blood is collected;
• strict donation procedures using sterile supplies; and
• testing - laboratory technicians perform up to ten tests on each unit of blood, including tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV-1 and -2 (the viruses that cause AIDS), syphilis, and HTLV-I and II, (rare viruses associated with leukemia or neurological problems). Any unit of blood that shows evidence of carrying a disease is discarded and the donor is deferred from subsequent donation.

Donated blood is tested for compatibility with patients. Before sending blood to a hospital for transfusion, it is tested for blood type (A, B, AB, O and Rh - positive or negative) and red cell antibodies.

These procedures are followed by all blood centers nationwide and are monitored under the regulatory guidance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).