NHS officials said blood services in the UK are “now one of the safest in the world” following publication of a final report into infected blood scandal – but scientists claims the risk of getting infections can never be eliminated completely. Patient safety is very different today compared to the 80s when tens of thousands of people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products , as a result of measures such as donor screening, multiple checks and tests on blood. In the current era, health officials err on the side of caution when it comes to receiving blood products and donations.

Strict rules are in place as to who can and cannot donate blood. For instance, people are not able to give blood if they are HIV positive, have Hepatitis B or C , or have ever been treated for syphilis . Before donors give blood they must complete a donor safety check, which sees them complete a questionnaire in which they are asked confidential questions about their medical history and lifestyle.

And anyone who recently travelled to countries with high risk of malaria, which can be transmitted through blood donations, is likely to be told to wait several months before being able to donate. Once all the testing is complete and passed, each pack of blood can be labelled and placed into controlled storage, ready to be sent to hospitals. Any blood donation that is reactive on testing for markers of infection is taken out of the supply chain and, if confirmed, the do.