AIDS

An international collection of information from leading researchers resulting from the WHO meeting in April 1986 is presented on how to provide safe blood and blood products in relation to AIDS. An overview is given of the LAV/HTLV-III virus together with its expression and natural history. Next is a comprehensive cover of i) industry's data on the use of special procedures to inactivate the AIDS virus during the manufacture of plasma derivatives and ii) strategies that have become essential for screening blood donors - both in the context of increasing the safety of blood products. Finally the currently available methods for anti-LAV/HTLV-III screening are reviewed including donor notification and related psychosocial aspects.