Data protection body concerned about IBTS theft

The Data Protection Commission has expressed concerned over the loss of sensitive information about Irish blood donors.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has confirmed that an encrypted disc containing information about more than 170,000 donors was stolen at knifepoint in New York earlier this month.

The IBTS had sent the disc to the US to have its software updated, but the worker involved was mugged and had his laptop stolen.

The matter is being investigated by the Data Protection Commission.