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CNN Live Today

In Tampa, Two Infected With HIV in Blood Transfusions

Aired July 19, 2002 - 11:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Two people in the Tampa Bay area have been infected with HIV from blood transfusions. The Blood Bank says the donor got the virus so recently that tests didn't detect it.

WTVT reporter Tanya Arja has the story now from Saint Petersburg.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TANYA ARJA, WTVT (voice-over): Even with all the testing blood goes through, there's no absolute guarantee it is not infected with the HIV virus. Two people in the Bay area are now proof of that.

DR. GERMAN LEPARC, FLORIDA BLOOD SERVICES: Very difficult, then, to know that, that same life-giving blood is not -- now causing an infection that will effect the rest of their lives.

ARJA: Workers at Florida Blood Services say a donor's blood tested positive for HIV in May. That blood was thrown out. But in tracing the donor back, workers found out that person had also given in March. The blood tested negative then, but now it's been confirmed the HIV virus was there, but in its earliest stage where it couldn't be detected.

LEPARC: And when there's such a small number of viruses within the first stage of infection, the first 7 to 10 days, there's such a minuscule amount that there's no test that can detect such a small amount in the bloodstream.

ARJA: Florida Blood Services uses a highly sensitive screening process called "Nucleic Acid Testing" or NAT, which they say is the best that can be used.

(on camera): Since the NAT testing started three years ago, only three people have contracted the HIV virus. One in San Antonio, and now two here in the Bay area.

(voice-over): Doctors say testing and screening continues to be improved.

MICHAEL HOWARD, TAMPA BAY AIDS NETWORK: And I think it's just a matter of time before we find ways that we can just tweak the test a little bit more and a little bit more to that as not being a possibility. ARJA: The donor apparently didn't know he or she had the virus. Doctors only hope for those other two who now have it, it's early enough to treat through medication.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where the tubes are coming in. Now they're getting ready.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: We got that report from Tampa affiliate WTVT. Doctors say that they're trying to track down other patients to see whether or not any others may have gotten any of that bad blood.

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