Is South Africa's blood among the safest in the world?

Question

The SANBS is a sect 21 company, it is not state own. According to their little magazine Blood Beat the SANBS has a variety of safety measures to keep its blood safe. One of these is to only collet blood form voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors only. According to the World Health Organisation WHO these donors have the safest blood. The WHO has recommended thal all countries emulate the system used by SA by 2012. .... this despite the fact that we have one of the highest HIV infected population in the world? Is this true or is it only "sales talk" by the SANBS?

Answer 1

I have curry flowing through my veins. Can HIV be found in curry?

Answer 2

I don´t think so. WIth the infection rate of HIV in SA, I would be very wary of claiming that the blood in SA is of the safest in the world.  The "window period" is 3 to 6 months (!!), and even longer, before tests show that one is HIV positive.  This is very risky:

http://www.sfaf.org/aids101/hiv_testing....

In Germany blood is also only donated by volunteers without remuneration, but even there one could make an error.

Answer 3

I think it would have relatively safe up until a few years back when the SANBS still followed the policy of burning or disposing of high risk blood, IE, blood from the "majority" population demographic in South Africa. Putting the term "racism" aside, it has to be noted that the black population group in S.A. are a far higher risk group than whites and Indians and the fact that their blood is now treated no differently to any other donation certainly increases the risk of contaminated/infected blood finding it's way through the process to those need blood transfusions.

I do believe this to be a case of "safe talk" as one can never underestimate the frequency and sheer volume of HIV infection in S.A. and we also need to bear in mind the stigma related to HIV testing in this country, where it is estimated that the majority of S.A. citizens living with HIV have never even been tested for the virus despite living high risk and promiscuous life styles, what is the HIV infection rate in S.A., 20%, 30% or more?, there are no reliable estimates and assuming that the demographic targeted by SANBS, whites, is low risk is also naive when considering that whites in S.A. have a higher rate of HIV prevalence than those across Europe.

I would insist on blood from a family member where possible in the event of needing a blood transfusion which I hope would never come about.

Answer 4

I have no idea but have heard too many horror stories about people getting infected blood, I would only take blood as a last resort.