Vol. 444 No. 7
143 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total number of women who now have tested positive in the Anti D screening programme; the number who have had liver biopsy tests; the number on treatment; the nature of the treatment; the success of the treatment; the number of spouses or children of such women who have tested positive and are on treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have been informed by the Blood Transfusion Service Board that the number of women who have been screened for hepatitis C antibodies under the national blood screening programme is 53, 236 as at 28 June 1994. The number who have tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies is 971. Blood samples from 939 women have undergone a confirmatory test and 411 of these women have tested positive for the hepatitis C virus.
The Blood Transfusion Service Board has advised me that as at 28 June 1994, 970 children and 292 partners have been screened for hepatitis C. This involves 394 families. Up to 28 June 1994, seven children and three partners have tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies. Further investigations are underway in these cases.
A total of 333 women have undergone a liver biopsy at one of the six designated hospitals who are providing treatment for persons who test positive for hepatitis C. The number of women who have been prescribed Interferon is 16 and two women have been prescribed other treatment. I have been advised by these hospitals that the treatment being provided is being monitored and that the outcome of the treatment will be assessed in due course.
I am not aware of any child or partner for whom treatment has been prescribed.
