Evaluation of the Quebec Public Information Campaign and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Antibody Screening Program directed to persons transfused between 1978 and 1985.

This study aimed to determine the number and characteristics of the blood recipients tested for HIV infection as a result of the provincial HIV antibody screening program (directed to persons transfused between 1978 and 1985 and their contacts) and to estimate the rate of HIV seroprevalence among them. All physicians in the province of Quebec were provided with a special prescription form for HIV testing of eligible patients. Over a six-month period, a total of 6,348 special prescription forms were used. The HIV seroprevalence was 0.13% (95% confidence interval: 0.04% to 0.2%). We estimated an increase of 16.5% (12,061 tests) in the number of HIV tests related to the program. These results were consistent with those found by similar programs elsewhere in Canada but less than expected. Multiple strategies, including direct notification of transfusion recipients, particularly pediatric patients, are probably necessary to reach infected blood recipients still unaware of their infection.