Transfusion leads to HIV
Medical authorities expect to know by next week exactly how a 70-year-old woman contracted HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS, via a blood transfusion. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) says it has already identified and removed all potentially infected batches of blood that may have been used. The pensioner underwent several transfusions between November 2007 and last month. The Health Ministry refused to reveal at which hospital the suspect transfusion occurred but it is thought to be a facility outside of Athens. Greece upgraded its blood testing facilities in 2006 after three cases of people contracting HIV from blood transfusions were recorded. The majority of blood now undergoes nucleic acid testing (NAT) which can detect HIV if it has been contracted 11 days or more prior to when the donor gave blood.
