HIV-positive donated blood units increased in 2016 —DOH

As the number of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in the Philippines increase every year, so does the number of HIV-positive blood donors.

A report by Dano Tingcungco in 24 Oras on Saturday said that the number of HIV-positive blood units from donors increased in number in 2016, citing the Department of Health's (DOH) December 2016 HIV/AIDS and Antiretroviral Therapy Registry.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) confirmed that 550 blood units were confirmed positive for HIV last year.

This is a huge increase from 2015's record of 456 HIV-positive blood units. In 2014, only 438 were confirmed positive for HIV.

In 2016, a total of 9,264 were diagnosed with the deadly virus, more than a thousand than the previous year's newly-diagnosed cases.

The DOH and RITM, meanwhile, said that the blood units do not reflect the number of HIV-positive blood donors, because one donor can donate more than a unit of blood.

No cause for alarm

They also clarified that the increasing number should not be a cause for alarm.

The blood supply remains safe and intact because the blood donated are first tested for HIV and other blood-borne infections.

Once confirmed positive for HIV, the infected blood units are disposed of.

According to the report, blood donors are screened prior to the procedure.

Doctors check if the donors have hypertension, are under the influence of alcohol, have tattoos, uses injectable drugs, or has had a risky sexual encounter that may affect the blood.

However, the HIV test is not included in the screenings.

A DOH official explained that the law does not allow forced HIV tests in any circumstance. The official said HIV tests are taken voluntarily.

"Kung gusto mo malaman yung status mo, you go to a doctor because you have to get counseling and that's a different process," said Eric Yaga, Director IV of the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development.

More and more Filipinos are unaware of their status, or that they are at risk, Yaga said.

"May mga tanong naman sa screening, so ibig sabihin you are in denial that you are at risk so you opted for na mag-donate pa rin," he said. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News