PMI unveils 8 cases of HIV-contaminated blood

PMI unveils 8 cases of HIV-contaminated blood

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) recently
discovered that eight bags of blood in its blood bank were
contaminated with HIV, an executive said on Saturday.

HM. Muas, head of PMI's Jakarta office, did not give details
on the uncovering of the contaminated blood but just said that
the number is relatively small compared to the amount of blood it
accepts from donors. About 164,000 blood bags are collected from
the donors annually.

Muas told Antara that the uncovering has prompted the Red
Cross to intensify its tests on blood from donors in a bid to
prevent the spread of diseases through blood transfusion.

"The blood tests will be intensified even though they are
expensive. Each test on a bag of blood from donors costs about Rp
100,000 (US$45.45)," he said.

The Red Cross is currently testing blood from donors to detect
any viruses. The tests are conducted by local doctors, with the
assistance of foreign experts to guarantee the tests' validity.

He explained that there are 434,444 active blood donors in
Jakarta at present. Last year the Red Cross' Jakarta office
managed to collect 164,244 bags of blood. Another 170,000 bags
are targeted this year, he said.

The Red Cross has launched a fund-raising campaign Sept. 17 to
collect additional funds from the public to finance the testing
activities, Muas said.

The campaign, lasting until Nov. 17, is expected to enable PMI
to raise additional funds of Rp 2.1 billion. (hhr)