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1. Tourists to South Africa
2. Tourists to Africa.

Tourists to South Africa

Blood transfusions in South Africa remain safe despite the country's high incidence of HIV and hepatitis B infection.

Providing safe blood is an ever increasing-responsibility for the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) and the organisation sustains its safety record through stringent donor selection, the maintenance of a dedicated panel of healthy, voluntary donors and utilising the latest available technology.

South Africa is currently the only country in the world that tests every donor's contribution at each donation for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C, using the latest NAT testing technology and maintains an accurate record of all donors and test results.

The WPBTS utilises Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) which uses DNA technology that effectively narrows the detection period of HIV infection to between 5-11 days.

This ensures that South African transfusion services, (Western Province Blood Transfusion and its counterpart, the South African National Blood Service) are in line with the highest standards of international blood transfusion practice.

Many developing countries, including many in Africa, still use unscreened blood and blood products.

A shortage of safe donors, lack of funds and a high prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B combined with a lack of scientific technology makes the provision of safe blood supply in Africa, except in South Africa, erratic and risky, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa.

If you intend travelling in Africa you must make yourself aware of the fact that blood products are a scarce commodity, and if available, may pose a serious threat of disease transmission.

Travelling parties should consider the following precautions:

1. A group compatibility profile: Blood grouping and antibody screening tests are performed on each member in the party and a profile is drawn up of who may safely donate to whom and all members are screened for transfusion transmissible diseases. It must be appreciated that any one of the party's members who act as donor may become infected with a transfusion transmissible disease, such as HIV, hepatitis B/C or malaria, after initial testing but before donating. In this instance the donated blood would be potentially infective.
2. The travelling party can carry suitable blood collection bags and equipment required for transfusion. These bags and needles are sealed, sterile and very light. A physician or nurse is needed to institute the transfusion, but this can be done without the need for additional tests or screening although it is recommended that additional testing is performed if it is available at the time. The attending physician would be ultimately responsible for making a final decision on the transfusion.

For more information and advice on testing and equipment required, please contact the WPBTS on tel +27 21 507 6300 or info@wpbts.org.za