DR. CHIU: Sir, will the Government inform this Council
of the percentage of contaminated blood collected in
in the
last 12 months and whether it will advise the Red Cross to
make it a practice to issue referral notes to donors whose
blood is rejected owing to certain diseases So that they
can seek medical treatment right away?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE : Yes, Sir, I am told
that during 1987, 155,000 units of blood were tested by the
Blood Transfusion Service and hepatitis B was found to be
present in 3.5 per cent of these and the figures for
syphilis and AIDS were 0.05 per cent and 0.0013 per cent
respectively. Where a donor's blood is found to be
infected in this way, the blood is discarded. The donor
is told confidentially about what has been discovered and
he is also offered medical advice
referred if he is willing to do so.
and
counselling and