Plasma Donations Have Declined Among IV Drug Users

JHMI--plasma--2
In the Hopkins study, AIDS Links to Intravenous Experience (ALIVE), investigators
surveyed and screened 2,921 Baltimore IV drug users and found 24.1 percent (704) were HIV-1
infected and 27.1 percent (793) reported donating blood or plasma between 1978 and 1988. Of.
these donors, 82.2 percent (652) had been injecting drugs for at least one year when they last
donated. Only 12.2 percent (97) reported their last donation was at least one year prior to first
using IV drugs.
Nelson reports that although the rate of HIV-1 infection among ALIVE participants
declined from 17.1 percent of those last donating plasma in 1985 to 3.6 percent of those last
donating in 1988-89, there still is a problem.
Plasnu donations made during the "window period" of about eight to 20 weeks between
HIV-1 infection and development of detectable antibodies could allow HIV-1 infected plasma to
be accepted even though the test for HIV-1 is negative, Nelson says.
With the frequent donations made by plasma donors--up to twice a week--"window period"
donations can increase. (Blood donors typically wait several months between donations.)
Because of the low socioeconomic status of plasma donors, the financial reimbursement for
each plasma donation is quite attractive for IV drug users seeking income, Nelson says. Most
commercial plasma centers pay from $10 to $15 per donation.
Because plasma obtained at commercial plasma centers is treated by physical and
chemical methods to purify components, a procedure that usually kills HIV-I, the end product is
likely to be safe even if it was obtained from an HIV-1-infected donor, Nelson says.
However, he adds, "it certainly would be preferable if donors at risk of HIV-I infections
were more effectively educated to avoid plasma donations."
To assist in recruiting and managing the study, Hopkins investigators formed a study
advisory board that included former addicts and professionals from the drug treatment
community. Eighty percent of the participants were recruited by word of mouth, whi"le the rest
came from street outreach, homeless centers, emergency rooms and clinics. Participants are
paid $10 per visit and are referred as needed to services for medical or drug treatment.
Nelson's colleagues were David Vlahov, Ph.D.; Joseph Margolick, M.D., Ph.D.; Marie
Bernal, B.S.; and Ellen Taylor, B.S. The National Institute of Drug Abuse supported the study.
(For press inquiries only, contact Marion E. Glick or Joann Rodgers at [phone].) 4/24/90