Infected Blood

How can HIV be passed on by infected blood?

If blood from a person infected by HIV gets into the blood stream of another person, it will infect them also with the HIV. This can happen:

If contaminated instruments are used to pierce the skin during:

• injections
• circumcision
• scarrification
• ear piercing
• tatooing
• acupuncture

Infection can be prevented if the equipment used is brand new, or is carefully sterilised each time it is used.

From a blood transfusion with infected blood

Blood transfusions may be necessary

• after a bad accident, if someone has lost a lot of blood;
  
  
• during a hospital operation;
  
  
• after childbirth, if the mother has lost much blood; or
  
  
• if a person is anaemic due to bilharzia, hookworm or malaria parasites.

If the blood or equipment used is contaminated with HIV, this will be transmitted to the person receiving the blood, and so they will also become infected.

All equipment used for blood transfusions should be sterilised before it is used. In some countries all blood which has been donated is tested for HIV infection, and only non-infected blood is used. More and more countries are now trying to do this.

There is no risk in donating blood if the equipment is new or properly sterilised.

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