Blood bank screening every potential donor for ZIKV, H1N1 and other viruses

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) says it is screening every potential blood donor for the  Zika (ZIKV), Chickungunya (ChicV), H1N1 and Dengue Fever viruses.

Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Veronica Taylor says donors are interviewed before blood samples are taken and have to wait one month to give blood if they were recently infected or exhibited symptoms associated with any of the viruses.

Taylor says the NBTS is screening donors because it is possible for the viruses to be passed on to recipients through blood transfusion.

Taylor says so far neither the blood bank nor any of the blood collection centres islandwide have seen patients with the symptoms associated with ZIKV, ChicV, Swine Flu or Dengue Fever.

Taylor also says the Blood Bank has increased its collection efforts.

She says a blood drive was held at the University Hospital Of The West Indies yesterday and another will be held at the hospital today in an effort to increase supply at the Blood Bank.