[HIV study of the German Red Cross of West Germany 1985-1989: prevalence/incidence and mode of infection, retrospective studies].

All German Red Cross Blood Banks in the FRG cooperate in a study on prevalence and epidemiology of HIV-antibodies in blood donors. The prevalences of 1 to 2 Western blot positive donors per 100,000 donors/donations quarterly since 1987 are constantly low. The measures undertaken to defer persons at risk seem to be effective. The "look back" data confirm the "rest risk" of HIV-infections by blood products in the FRG which is estimated to be about 1:1 million on the basis of the epidemiologic data. More than 90% of the donors infected are members of risk groups of heterosexual partners to persons at risk. Until today, in blood donors there is no indication of an increasing number of unaware heterosexually acquired HIV-infections.