Vol. 482 No. 8
172 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioners who were recently sent, by his Department, through a courier firm, information on a blood screening programme, syringes and bottles; the purpose, if any, of this exercise; the cost of this exercise; and the number of those parcels which were returned undelivered. [19670/97]
A public information announcement was placed in the national newspapers on 6 October 1997 by the Blood Transfusion Service Board to advise the public that a very small number of patients may have been exposed to the risk of HIV infection as a result of the transfusion of blood or other blood products produced prior to the introduction of HIV screening of blood donations in October 1985. The public were advised that any persons who were concerned and who wished to avail of testing should consult their general practitioners who, if necessary, would arrange for tests to be performed by the Virus Reference Laboratory at University College Dublin.
On 30 September 1997 a total of 2,176 kits were sent to general practitioners by courier to assist them in providing the testing service. A total of 94 kits were returned undelivered. The total cost of the kits and their delivery was £22,363. To date, approximately 1,500 tests have been carried out. There have been no positive results.
