[HIV prevalence and HIV incidence in blood donors in Baden-Württemberg]

Since several years the frequency of HIV infections among screened blood donors in Baden-Württemberg (a state in southwest Germany) shows no remarkable differences between the German Red Cross donors and the donors of other blood banks. The authors advocate the hypothesis that different HIV rates among donors depend on their social environment. The number of HIV infections expected increases with the size of the donors' places of residence. The donor populations of different blood banks of Baden-Württemberg seem to be equal. Within the framework of epidemiological surveillance, the results of HIV screening of blood donors should be thoroughly analysed.