Revelation of HIV-positive blood among seronegative donor blood in Kenya using the polyclonal B-cell activation test (P-BAT). (Research Report)

According to an abstract submitted by the authors to the conference Viral Blood Safety and Screening, held October 17-19, 1994, in Washington, D.C., "Background: Since the window period between HIV infection and seroconversion is measured in months, there is a high risk of hidden (seronegative yet infected) blood donors particularly in populations with a high HIV prevalence. Normally, blood banks would try to minimize the risk by use of elaborate questionnaires designed to exclude donors from high risk populations. In most African countries these questionnaires are either not used or they do not offer accurate and reliable information with respect to the possible HIV exposure. …