Concern about "lookback" exercise for hepatitis C

Abstract

EDITOR,--Nigel Higson expresses concern about the national “lookback” exercise being undertakento detect recipients of blood donations originating from donors subsequently found to be positive for hepatitis C virus. Those of us in the transfusion service who are supervising the lookback exercise share several of Higson's concerns. Specifically, the counselling of patients who have been exposed to hepatitis C through blood transfusion requires knowledge about the disease and experience of notification, pretest counselling, and support after the test. On the other hand, no new resources have been made available for this exercise. In many cases, general practitioners have indicated that they are inadequately …