HTLV-I Antibody Testing (7/6/89)

DATE :     July 6, 1989

FROM:      Director, Center of Biologics Evaluation and Research

SUBJECT:   HTLV-I Antibody Testing

TO:        Licensed Source Plasma Manufactures Approved for 
           Immunization with Red Blood Cells


All blood establishments were notified in our 29 November 1988
memorandum (copy attached) of the recommendation for testing all
donors of cellular procedures for the antibody to Human T-Cell
Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) we believe this recommendation
should be adopted to protect recipients of cellular products for
immunization purposes.

If you intend to implement HTLV-I testing for this purpose please 
notify us within 10 days of receipt of this communication of your 
SOP revision to include anti-HTLV-I testing of all red blood
cells for immunization.



                             Paul D. Parkman, M.D.