The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that all donated blood and blood components in the U.S. be screened for Zika virus. And at least one Arizona blood bank is gearing up to do just that.
The FDA announced Friday that after considering the scientific evidence and the “potential serious” health consequences, specifically to pregnant women and their unborn babies, that all donated blood should be tested for Zika.
Dr. Ralph Vassalo is with Blood Systems, which operates United Blood Services Arizona. "But in the absence of active transmission in the state, we have four weeks to start that and gives us time to do this in a much more thoughtful way that prevents errors," he said.
The Red Cross also announced that it would expand its current testing to four more states in the south central and southwestern U.S. It is currently testing blood in five southeastern states.
