The risks of infection transmission by blood transfusion in England.

Strategies implemented to prevent transmission of infections by blood transfusion have been very successful. Despite this, the risk of infectious donations entering the blood supply and transmitting infection to the recipients of blood components and blood products is continually under scrutiny. In order to assess the risks and consequences of transfusion transmitted infections the characteristics of blood borne infections, of donations, and of blood recipients need to be considered. Over the years, knowledge about new agents and about potential failures in the strategies to exclude known agents has increased. Consequently the range of possible strategies to exclude infections from the blood supply has also increased, and debate about the risks of infection transmission by blood transfusion has become more complex.