SINGAPORE: Singapore health authorities may include dengue on the permanent list of diseases tested for in blood products in the future - that is, if a reliable and licensed test kit for dengue becomes available.

This comes on the back of news that three people contracted the dengue virus from a blood donor in Singapore last year - the first time this has happened here.

Singapore health authorities say the risk of contracting dengue fever through blood transfusion is low in Singapore.

However, they explain that dengue is not tested in donated blood now. That is because today's examination kits only detect anti-bodies produced in response to the virus and not the virus itself.

Dr Mickey Koh, division director, Blood Services Group, Health Sciences Authority, said: "The anti-bodies only come up a few days after the virus is in the body.

"Therefore, if we do use this same patient test in the donor blood bank situation, we would have missed a vital few days where the donor may have the virus on board, but have not produced the anti-bodies. And in that case, that test would have been negative anyway."

For those interested in donating, the Singapore Red Cross always explains the pre-requisites.

Elaine Tham, senior manager for donor recruitment, Singapore Red Cross, said: "Say, for example, if they're having fever, we'll advise them that they would have to rest first, get well, not to have fever for the last three weeks before they come by for a blood donation."

With the surge in chikungunya cases recently, the authorities even included extra questions in the assessment form to verify the health of donors.

Every bag of blood donated is tested for four types of infectious diseases. These include HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis.

Other countries like the US and the UK do similar tests. So generally, Singaporeans are satisfied with the standard checks in place and still remain confident of the quality of blood donated here.

Dr Tan Tee Ngee, a regular blood donor, said: "It'll remind people that receiving blood carries a little bit of risk, but donating blood, I think it's ok, as long as you're responsible. If you find that after donating blood, you're sick, then you've got to call back and tell them to stop using the blood."

Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, a regular blood donor, said: "As a donor, I believe it's our responsibility and we must make sure that we're healthy."

Last year, over 55,000 people donated about 87,500 bags of blood.

- CNA/ir