Can U Get AIDS From Blood Transfusion

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Articles

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Greece to Improve Blood Transfusion Checks After Two Hospital Patients Get AIDS

On Tuesday, Greece announced it will screen blood for transfusions with the more sensitive nucleic acid testing (NAT). The announcement follows reports that two people were infected with HIV after a donor's blood tested false-negative under the old... Read more »

News Outlets Report on Growing Pressure on Chinese Government to Acknowledge How Blood Transfusions, Donations in 1990s Contributed to Spread of HIV/AIDS in China

The Los Angeles Times examines the factors that contributed to the spread of HIV/AIDS among people living in China who donated blood and received blood transfusions at government-run hospitals in the 1990s. According to the newspaper, "the... Read more »

HIV-Positive Blood Mistakenly Used for Transfusions, Blood Products in Korea, Health Ministry Says

Blood that tested positive for HIV or hepatitis was used in transfusions and to make blood products because of errors made by the Korea National Red Cross , officials from the country's Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Thursday, the Korea... Read more »

Ask the Experts

Blood Transfusion despite virus in lymph nodes and brain

Hello,You have once stated that there is no point to blood transfusions, and 'cleaning' the AIDS cells because the virus exists in the lymph nodes and the brain as well... but would it be a good idea anyways, to get a blood transfusion...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

There is much more virus in other body tissues than there is in blood, maybe a 9:1 ratio (90% in tisses, 10% in blood compartment), so this approach would be fruitless.... Read more »

Blood Cell transfusions

I have a simple question, why can't blood transfusions be administered in treating AIDS patients? If a match were provided wouldn't the increased presence of CD4 cells help their immune system, say if they received such transfusions weekly?...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

Your question hits at one of the most challenging aspects of treating HIV. The problem with having low CD4 count with HIV is not that the body is not making CD4 cells, but rather that they are being destroyed quickly. Activated CD4 cells only last... Read more »

Blood transfusions as treatment.

Hi, Id like to know how well plain blood transfusion(s) works with HIV. I mean before ART and HAART there wasnt many options available to delay the onset of AIDS excluding AZT with all so well known notorious side-effects. Is it technically possible...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Hi and thanks for posting.Unfortunately, blood transfusions are not a treatment for HIV infection. The main issue is that even if you could replace all of the circulating blood (and plasma), there's a lot of HIV that is stuck inside of the... Read more »

Does Blood Transfusion increase CD4 count?

I'm Horacio. I have been taking drugs for hiv/aids since june/00, when my CD4 was oly 14. I developed anemia so I'm receiving blood transfusion every 3 or 4 weeks. My CD4 count is almost 300 now. My question is:Does Blood Transfusion...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi Horacio,Glad to hear your CD4 count is on the way up. The most likely cause for this increase is your "HIV drugs", not the blood transfusions. Why are you receiving transfusions? Has the cause or causes of your anemia been determined?... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others

accident victim hiv+ after blood transfusion

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Accident victim HIV+ after blood transfusion

My 19 year old daughter was a victim of a drunk driver. She was
on life support for a month, in the hospital for three months,
underwent five surgeries, and received 21 units of transfused
blood. Now,... Read more »

Question on transfusion..

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hey everyone, I was just wondering if it's possible for someone to have HIV after receiving a few blood transfusions in June of '85 due to being born prematurely???

Read more »

hiv by transfusion

Posted by living, 2 Replies

I am a 22 year survivor. I became postive after having a blood transfusion. There is a good quality of life after diagnosis if you take your meds on a schedule and don't skip any. I would like to chat with other women who are positive and if any are... Read more »

Woman living with AIDS for 28 years.

Posted by kymisme, 5 Replies

Hello,
I was born a premature baby, in 1982. I recieved a blood transfusion and got AIDS. I have 4 kids who are all negative. This is not a means to stop living your life, you can still have kids, you can live normally..Im fine my kids are beautiful... Read more »

Connect on Our Bulletin Boards »

Tools

My Health Tracker

Assess Your Risk for HIV

Find Local HIV/AIDS Services

Resource Centers

Guides for People With HIV

View All of Our Guides >>