[Risk of infection in hemotherapy]

For some years, public interest has focused on transfusion-transmitted HIV. German blood donors are now selected and show only very low incidences in HIV and hepatitis. Only one per million donors seems to transmit HIV. The remaining risk of post-transfusion hepatitis is estimated to range between 1:10,000 and 1:100,000. Some new diagnostic tests might reduce the danger of transfusion-transmitted infections. Screening donors for anti-HBc is a well accepted tool to decrease post-transfusion hepatitis B. The HIV-p24-Ag test is expensive and only of doubtful value. Donor recruitment should be improved in future.