I have been advised that the person referred to by the Deputy has had extensive discussions with a medical officer at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service concerning the reason she was temporarily deferred at a recent blood donation clinic. All donations of the person in question have been tested in line with international standards and have tested ELISA negative for hepatitis C antibodies. The ELISA test is a very sensitive automated test which is in use by transfusion centres internationally. The only time it may miss a donor infected with hepatitis C is in the window period during the early phase of infection, before the individual has produced antibodies to hepatitis C, that is, 90 days after exposure. As the person in question received anti-D in 1977, the window period of possible exposure has well passed.
As the Deputy is aware, infected anti-D was manufactured in 1977 and 1978. In the case of blood donors who received anti-D in those years the IBTS is routinely conducting a PCR test on blood samples of such donors as a further precautionary measure. PCR testing is aimed at detecting the presence of a virus during the window period. Pending the results of a PCR test, such donors are temporarily deferred. When the person in question attended a recent donor clinic she completed a revised donor questionnaire form which contained a question concerning the administration of anti-D in 1977 or 1978. As she received anti-D in 1977, a temporary deferral code was placed on her donation record and a blood sample for PCR testing was taken at the clinic. The IBTS has confirmed that she was not exposed to infectious Anti-D in 1977 and it is awaiting the PCR results before reinstating her as a donor. This donor has repeatedly tested ELISA negative and I am advised that there is no medical reason to question the accuracy of the ELISA test results.
