UK soldiers in contaminated blood transfusion warning

Published on Thursday 10 January 2008 09:22

BRITISH soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been exposed to contaminated blood, it has emerged.

Eighteen seriously injured soldiers were given transfusions using blood sourced from the American military as part of their emergency treatment, the MoD said.

It was reported today the blood may not have been properly screened and "certified" after it was donated in the US, leaving a risk it could have been contaminated with HIV, hepatitis or syphilis.

The MoD said: "We are contacting every one of the very small number of UK service personnel whose transfusions might not have had a valid retrospective test.

"However, any member of the forces who is concerned about a blood transfusion they received on deployed operations should contact their own doctor or medical officer."

Defence Minister Derek Twigg said: "These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving a blood transfusion at the front line.

"The Defence Secretary acted quickly to ensure that personnel involved were informed as soon as possible. The risk of any infection is low – however we are taking it extremely seriously."