Newly Diagnosed
14 Members
Created by Jack Reynold

HIV through blood and blood products

During the 1980s, 90 percent of people with severe hemophilia were infected by HIV and/or HCV through use of clotting factor concentrates. Clotting factor concentrates are made from pooled, donated blood, and before blood testing for HIV was developed these products were contaminated with the virus.This angered the affected community because manufacturers knew the dangers of contamination but still continued to distribute the concentrates.

Now screening of blood and blood products for HIV/HCV is done before it is transfused. And the incidence of HIV transmission has reduced .

Is there anyone in this community who are innocent victims of this tragedy?  If so kindly share your experience.

33 months ago
Results 1 - 4

  • Perry

    I don't know much about this issue, but I did hear that when a person gets blood there is a risk of this happening. I heard the put the blood on a rating scale, like 1 to 10. If you need blood you should ask where it falls on this scale. Mainly because the closer you get to the number 10 the better chance you have in getting the virus HIV/AIDS.

    30 months ago

  • Jim

    I think this post should tell anyone reading that HIV can be transmitted in MANY ways....educate, protect, and help others....a key to living with HIV...and remember to take time for yourself

    Also, I agree with you on the blood testing...even when one gives blood or donates blood to Red Cross...it is checked and cross~checked....so I am told and this was never done prior to the HIV breakout sadly enough....

    29 months ago

  • J

    I guess nowadays there is the right framework setup to prevent blood contamination, but in general do you guys encourage blood donations?? I am one of those type of people that carries a donor card (I think you have them in the US) but never really think to donate blood. This post made me think about donating blood but I guess I need to hear more from/be encouraged by people who need the extra blood...would appreiciate your thoughts.

    27 months ago

  • Flo

    The Hema philiacs  we're given such a terrible deal with the contaminated clotting factor. A dear friend of mine from one of my support groups was part of the class action law suit. But the system , in their selfish nasty fashion  , just kept making one reason after a million other reasons to stall any settlement. I truly belive they , the system, just figured that if they stalled long enough , then most of tose infected would eventually die and that would end the law suit. They actually tried to settle by offering the hemophilliacs only thousands of dollars ,What an insult. A person that loses an arm can get millions. Guess a life isn't worth more. And to make matters worse, instead of distroying the contaminated clotting factor , which meant alot of lost revenue, it was pawned off onto poor countries such as Cuba. And this is the attrosity my friend fought , till the day he died. Where it all stands now would be interesting to find out. Does anyone know?

    24 months ago

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