Results of nationwide screening of blood and plasma for antibodies to human T-cell lymphotrophic III virus, type III.

From April 22 to July 28, and from October 7 to November 3, 1985 the American Red Cross, the Council of Community Blood Centers, the American Association of Blood Banks, and the American Blood Resources Association provided the Food and Drug Administration with data at 2-week intervals on human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) test kit results at blood and plasma collection centers. Reports were received from over 150 blood collection centers that screened 2,502,829 units of blood for antibody to HTLV-III by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during nine 2-week surveillance intervals. Of these, 25,324 or 1.01 percent were initially reactive and 8443 or 0.34 percent were repeatedly reactive. The repeatedly reactive rate for women was 0.33 percent and for men 0.30 percent. Data for source plasma was collected at 275 locations and tested at eight central laboratories showed that for 2,603,652 units screened (which may represent multiple collections from the same donor) 3978 or 0.15 percent were repeatedly reactive. Screening results from both blood and plasma collection centers varied over time and among kits.