Safety screen in blood donation

Bay of Plenty blood donors will have to prove their identities under tough new rules being trialled to help make blood safer.

The six-month identification pilot scheme was launched yesterday in Tauranga by the NZ Blood Service and if successful will be used nationwide.

Blood Service marketing manager Paul Hayes said donors visiting the Cameron Rd clinic would now have to show documents confirming at least three of the following details: full name, photograph, date of birth, home address, signature or donor registration number.

A driver's licence, passport or a credit card with a photo would be sufficient in many cases, Mr Hayes said.

"It's just another safety step to help eliminate mistakes in terms of donor identification. Such mistakes are very rare in New Zealand but we want to get rid of that possibility."

A total of 3000 people regularly give blood at the clinic, but another 50 are needed each week.

Mr Hayes said there had been cases of siblings getting their donor registration numbers mixed up and donating a type of blood collections staff thought was another type.

While every blood sample in New Zealand was tested to confirm blood type before it was given to a patient, such mistakes could be fatal if they slipped through the system undetected.

Mr Hayes said there had also been cases overseas where HIV-positive or hepatitis patients had donated blood without disclosing their true identity or medical condition.