After people donate blood, blood banks conduct a series of tests to make sure the blood they’ve given is safe. And now, blood banks are looking at an additional health hazard.
The Delmarva region has reported over 100 Zika virus cases, with 108 cases in Maryland and 16 in Delaware.
That’s why the Food and Drug Administration now mandates all blood centers in the United States to test all blood samples for Zika. The Zika test joins 16 others required for donated blood.
Blood Bank of Delmarva Lab Operations Manager Trudelle Green said testing the blood supply for Zika will ensure it is as safe as possible before donation.
“While we are testing the blood supply for Zika, the chance of actually finding a Zika positive donor is very remote, especially in this area because there have only been cases that have been transmitted from mosquitoes in Florida,” Green said.
Testing blood for Zika, Green said, is important in preventing the spread of the virus, especially through and in pregnant women.
“If a pregnant mom received a transfusion that has Zika in it, then that puts her baby at risk,” Green said. “So we want to prevent that and that’s the reason the FDA moved quickly on this one and mandated it.”
Green said she expects this test will continue for the foreseeable future, as long as Zika is seen as a threat.
Blood banks were only given about 12 weeks notice to comply with the new mandate, and had a choice between conducting their own testing or contracting with a laboratory. Blood Bank of Delmarva chose to conduct their own testing. Normally, adding a new mandatory test would take six months to a year.
