A: According to the national policies of the American Red Cross, a positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (or hepatitis, etc.) test result would prompt them to send you a confidential, certified letter asking you to come in and discuss the test results in person. No one with a confirmed HIV positive (Western Blot test) is notified of their health status in a letter.
Some facts about blood donation:
- You cannot “catch” HIV
(or other infectious diseases) from donating blood in the United States.
- New, sterile, “one-time-use”
needles and collection equipment are used for each and every donor.
- Less than 5% of those eligible
for blood donation actually donate.
- Six out of 10 American will need donated blood before the age of 55.
A: The risk of contracting HIV from a blood transfusion today is extremely low. Over the past decade, blood testing has improved dramatically. Your risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion is lower than your risk of getting killed by lightning. Only about 1 in 2 million donations might carry HIV and transmit HIV if given to a patient.
Source: American Red Cross,
National Institutes of Health
