[HIV study of German Red Cross blood banks in Germany and Berlin].

In the HIV study of the German Red Cross blood banks the overall rate has remained constantly low, with less than two Western blot positive donors in 100,000 donors since 1987. However, the rate of HIV positivity tends to increase in male first time and in male repeat blood donors. Despite this fact, the overall rate stays constant since the number of young first time donors has decreased with increasing donations by women. Therefore the blood banks once again have to take newly intensified but also sophisticated measures to guarantee further as well a sufficient number of blood products as their HIV safety.