Written question asked by Jenny Willott (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 25 April 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 April 2007. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Monday, 14 May 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Blood

Question: (5) how much and what proportion of blood products given to haemophiliacs in (a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988 and (e) 1989 was sourced from the US; and if she will make a statement;

Answer: During the 1970s and 1980s the Department did not purchase imported blood products. At the time, Blood Products Laboratory (BPL) made plasma products from plasma collected from British blood donors. From 1999 BPL has obtained plasma from the United States as a precautionary measure against vCJD transmission by United Kingdom plasma. All US plasma collection centres are highly regulated and conform to a strict code of practice.Clinicians have been able to directly procure blood products from other sources and data on their use is not collected centrally. However, the report ““Self Sufficiency in Blood Products in England and Wales”” contains information on the annual consumption of factor VIII in the UK (table two) for the years 1969-1987. In addition, further information on the consumption of both the BPL and commercial blood products is contained in two articles ““Treatment of Haemophilia in the United Kingdom 1981-1996””, by Rizza CR et al Haemophilia (2001) 7, 349-359; and ““Treatment of haemophilia in related disorders in Britain and Northern Ireland during 1976-80””, by Rizza CR et al British Medical Journal (286) 1983. Copies of these articles have been placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 134909; 460 c572-3W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP 07/1153
Monday, 14 May 2007
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Blood Imports Haemophilia USA Blood transfusions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk