Thousands unaware they have got infected blood products
It is estimated that about 20,000 batches of infected or potentially infected anti-D were administered to women in the 1970s and in the early 1990s. But batch cards and medical information are not available for about 13,000 women, which means health authorities are unable to match women to the blood products. Separately, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is to try and contact thousands of women who originally tested negatively for the hepatitis C virus to re-test them. Blood experts say there is an exceptionally low risk of infection among the women and the re-testing is a precautionary measure. The re-testing scheme has been ongoing for about three years and 8,000 women have been contacted, of whom 6,000 have been re-tested to-date.
The IBTS said it is to try and contact or trace thousands more over the coming months with a view to re-testing other women. It is not clear why these women did not contract the hepatitis C virus from infected or potentially infected batches. Some may have naturally cleared the virus, but there may also be a small number who showed a negative result in preliminary testing in 1994, but actually have the disease, say experts. It is understood that the women will be contacted through their GPs and will be offered referrals to anti-D units. The IBTS knows that over 20,000 batches of infected or potentially infected anti-D were administered, but only 1,000 or so tested positive for hepatitis C.
