EDITORIAL - Tainted blood, again

In recent years, there have been at least two scandals involving tainted blood in the nation’s supply. The scandals led to the shutdown of several blood banks particularly in the city of Manila, where drug abusers were reportedly allowed to donate blood. This practice, traced to small blood banks with mom-and-pop operations, raised concern not only about dangerous drugs in the donated blood but also about diseases such as AIDS that can be contracted through the use of unsterilized hypodermic needles.

These concerns have surfaced once again after one of the 159 new cases of HIV/AIDS recorded in February was traced to contaminated blood used in transfusion. The Department of Health is currently tracing if any of the other 159 contracted the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus through contaminated blood donations. DOH officials noted that it was the first case of tainted blood recorded in six years.

Blood donors are screened for fitness and the blood rendered is tested before being stored. In the previous scandals, certain private banks apparently skipped safety processes or had some lapses in testing, accepting blood from individuals who simply needed quick cash. Among the dubious donors were drug abusers.

After the scandals, legitimate operators of blood banks vowed to clean up their ranks and cooperated closely with the DOH to keep the nation’s blood supply safe. Either there has been an accident somewhere and safety measures didn’t work, or else certain unscrupulous individuals are again in business, tainting the nation’s blood supply and endangering lives.

If the tainted blood was not collected in a hospital, health authorities must work quickly with private blood banks to determine what happened and prevent the return of irresponsible operators in the blood supply business. It is a business, and it is one where safety cannot be compromised in the name of profit. The long-term viability of the business depends on this record for safety. Most importantly, this commitment to safety is indispensable in saving lives, which should be the principal consideration in collecting blood.