Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hepatitis C Virus.

Nora Owen

Question:

343 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health the incubation period for the hepatitis C virus; if he has satisfied himself that all those who have received blood transfusions before 1989 have not received the virus, un-named as it was, through contaminated blood.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

Following exposure to the hepatitis C virus, antibody to the virus may appear up to four months after exposure. In a number of persons so exposed, the antibody may disappear if the virus has not persisted in their system.

It is not the intention to extend the national blood testing programme to all persons who received blood transfusions in the past because the risk of infection is very low. It is known that Irish blood donors have a low incidence of hepatitis C by comparison with other European countries.

I have been informed by the Blood Transfusion Service Board that they are at present considering the necessity of implementing a policy of a targeted look back of recipients of previous donations from donors now found antibody positive to hepatitis C.