HIV infection found more often in black blood donors

Blood Centers of the Pacific in San Francisco analyzed blood samples from 1.7 million first-time donors and found that black donors were 25 times more likely to have recently acquired HIV infections.¹

Researchers found that two of every 100,000 white donors were newly infected, whereas 51 per 100,000 black donors had been newly infected, according to a demographic study of HIV incidence presented at the 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, held in Chicago in February.

The study also found that men and donors in the 25-44 age range were twice as likely as women to be infected, and the new infection rate did not change significantly between 1993 and 1996.

Reference

1. Busch MP, Aberle-Grasse J, Rawal BD, et al. Demographic correlates of HIV incidence among U.S. blood donors. Abstract No. 272. Presented at the 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Chicago; Feb. 1-5, 1999.