
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990                   TAG: 9007100466
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA                                LENGTH: Medium

PAPER SAYS AIDS LINK NOT REPORTED BY RED CROSS

The American Red Cross failed to notify federal authorities about 230 cases in which patients may have contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions, a newspaper reported today.

In at least four cases, patients died as a result of contaminated blood, but the federal Food and Drug Administration was not informed, The Philadelphia Inquirer said.

The newspaper said it obtained a report of an FDA inspection of the Red Cross' national headquarters in Washington, D.C., that was carried out between April 26 and May 25.

It said the agency found that the Red Cross lacked procedures "for reviewing and tracking transfusion-associated AIDS cases by national [headquarters] to assure [that] all regions are submitting the initial reports and follow-up reports are complete."

Under federal law, the FDA may require the Red Cross to correct the deficiencies, or either suspend or revoke its license to collect and distribute blood.

Errors at Red Cross blood centers around the country ranged from potentially dangerous donors not being excluded to the release of blood that initially tested positive for AIDS antibodies but was later found to be negative, the newspaper said, quoting from the FDA report.

A subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing Friday to investigate the safety of the American blood supply.

The Red Cross supplies more than half of all the blood used by American hospitals. Its 54 regional centers collect and distribute more than 6 million units of blood.

A Red Cross spokesman told the newspaper that no one was available to comment on the report.

by CNB