MEDICINE Test could boost blood stocks

A blood test which can identify people who have been exposed to malaria could help boost blood stocks by tens of thousands of units each year.

The test is undergoing trials by the National Blood Service in London, where large numbers of potential donors have to be turned away because they have visited countries within the past year where malaria is endemic. It can be used on anyone who has returned from an affected country at least six months previously.

The blood service estimates that the test will boost the number of donors in the area served by the north London centre by 200 a week, equivalent to an extra 10,000 donations a year.

Jeremy Laurance