The incident referred to by the Deputy was caused by a problem which arose in December 1999 when work was being completed on the Blood Transfusion Service Board's computer system to make it year 2000 compliant. As a result, the computer check which identified any donations received from donors who were temporarily deferred did not function properly. The board's own staff identified the malfunction which was rectified as soon as it was discovered.
When the computer problem was rectified, reports for December were re-run and two donations were identified which had been taken from donors who were temporarily deferred due to recent nose piercing in one case, and recent acupuncture from a non-medically registered practitioner in the other. On investigation, the BTSB found that both of the deferred donors attended at a clinic which was different to one previously attended, completed the medical questionnaire and omitted to give the information which had previously led to their deferrals. The vital security check when processing blood is the sensitive laboratory testing which is carried out on all donations. Both donations had been subjected to rigorous laboratory checks and were found to be safe. Nevertheless, the recall procedure was initiated immediately and resulted in one donation being recalled and discarded before use. Red cells and plasma from the second donation were also recalled and discarded, however platelets had been infused into one patient. The donor whose platelets had been infused was traced in early January and agreed to undergo further tests. Blood samples were obtained and tested negative for all viral markers.
