FDA Communication: Important Information for Potential Donors of Blood and Blood Products

The following is an excerpt from a recent communication from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Read the full communication here:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like to remind the public that individuals who have ever tested positive for HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) should not donate blood, because of the potential risk of transmitting HIV to others. This is consistent with FDA’s current policy on blood donation.
A recent study of the blood supply in the United States identified some HIV-positive blood donations from individuals who were taking antiretroviral drugs.¹ To date, there have been no reported cases of HIV transmission to transfusion recipients by blood donated by such individuals. However, FDA is concerned about the risk that such donations pose to the overall safety of the blood supply.