Before a blood transfusion is given, the blood must be cross-matched to ensure that it is compatible with your own blood. This involves taking a sample of your blood to identify your blood group, and matching it with suitable donor blood. This procedure ensures that the blood you are given will not make you unwell.

There are many Blood borne, transfusion transmitted and related diseases. Clerical errors also contribute to transfusion transmission of harmful agents. These types of errors include, among others, the release of unsuitable units of Blood; accidental transfusion of autologous Blood to another recipient (autologous Blood may include infectious disease); and errors in testing.You may get any of the most deadliest of diseases for no fault of yours.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection together with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV are important public health problems. HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of HIV contaminated needles and/or syringes, transfusion of blood components, and nosocomial exposure to HIV contaminated blood or bodily fluids, and can be passed vertically from a mother to her infant.

HBV (hepatitis B virus) is transmitted cutaneously through injection drug use, through exposure to contaminated blood or bodily fluids, sexually through heterosexual or male homosexual activities, vertically from mother to infant, and horizontally among household contacts.

Hepatitis C virus HCV is transmitted through several routes, including injection drug use, nosocomial exposure to contaminated blood or bodily fluids, blood transfusion, sexual activities, and from mother to infant. The risk of HCV transmission through blood transfusion was reduced remarkably after the implementation of blood donor serologic testing for HCV in 1990.

The acute infection of hepatitis G (HGV) or GB virus C (GBV-C) is mostly asymptomatic. HGV/GBV-C is primarily transmitted through blood transfusion, but it can also be spread by organ transplantation, hemodialysis, sexual activity, and injection drug use, as well as through vertical transmission from mother to fetus.

Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is common and often lasts for a lifetime. CMV can be spread through sexual contact with infected individuals. It can also be passed from mother to infant in utero as well as from cervical secretions at birth and during breast-feeding. In addition, CMV can be transmitted effectively through blood transfusion, and organ and bone marrow transplantation.

TT virus (TTV) is also a newly identified virus. Infection with TTV is common throughout the general population, particularly in recipients who have received multiple transfusions and in injection drug users. TTV has not been associated with any hepatitis or other clinical disease23. The virus is transmitted through blood transfusion, and the prevalence of TTV infection among donors may range from 2% to 60%24. Nevertheless, blood units are not routinely screened for serologic markers of TTV infection.

If you or any of your loved one has suffered as a result of negligent blood transfusion, you may be able to make a medical negligence compensation claim. Preliminary discussions with one of our knowledgeable and sympathetic clinical negligence Lawyers will establish what options are open to you.


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