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Blood Supply Safety Last March the Center for Disease Control and Prevention commented on questions about safety the US blood supply, Here is some of that information: The CDC reports that since March 1985 blood donations are required for the antibody to HIV-1 for HIV-2 since June 1992 and beginning in August 1995 for HIV-1 by an additional test, a P24 antigen test which can detect HIV-1 a week before the HIV antibody develops. The risk for HIV transmission with the current screening, is 1 in about 450,000 to 1 in 600,000 donations infectious for HIV but do not test positive by currently available HIV antibody tests. On Guam, GMH pathologist, Dr. Philip Dauteman, is confident about the antibody and antigen testing conducted on donated blood at GMH. Newer tests have shortened the window period where earlier tests wouldn't identify HIV so that tests now will show HIV infection acquired as recently as 30 days ago. Those who do not know their HIV status should have it tested at Public Health or a private clinic before donating blood. According to the enters for Disease Control and Prevention, people at risk for HIV infection should not donate blood. Antibody testing at recommended intervals by a HIV counseling and testing site is the best way for health care providers to routinely diagnose HIV in adults and children over 18 months.