What tests are administered to ensure safe blood is given to patients?

After blood is donated, it is tested in a laboratory to ensure it is safe for transfusions. Tests currently performed (as of July 2010 ) include:

- Each unit of blood is tested for the following: ABO and Rh blood groups.
- Unexpected red blood cell antibodies that are a result of prior transfusion, pregnancy or other factors.
- Hepatitis B surface antigen, indicating a current infection (hepatitis) or carrier state for hepatitis B virus.
- Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, indicator of a present or past infection with the hepatitis B virus.
- Antibody to hepatitis C virus, indicating a current or past infection with hepatitis C virus (most common cause of non-A/non-B hepatitis).
- Antibody to HTLV-I/II, indicator of infection with a virus that may cause adult T-cell leukemia or neurological disease.
- Antibody to HIV-1/2, indicator of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) for hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV.
- Screening test for antibodies to syphilis.
- NAT for West Nile Virus (WNV).
- Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test for Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas Disease).