Blood from donors in Texas is now being tested for Zika virus infection, in an effort to prevent the virus from being spread through transfusions.
Blood from donors in Texas is now being tested for Zika virus infection, in an effort to prevent the virus from being spread through transfusions.
The testing has already found signs of the virus in a pint of donated blood from the Austin area and another donated in Midland.
"We don't know if they're confirmed yet, but we do know that it was at least initially reactive for the Zika virus," said Nancy Haubert, at Creative Testing Solutions in Bedford.
Texas is among 11 states which were given until Friday to begin testing the blood supply for the Zika virus.
Florida and Puerto Rico began testing for Zika earlier this summer, and remaining states have until Nov. 18 to begin testing.
"We are considered to be at a slightly higher risk than the rest of the country of having Zika here," said Dr. Geeta Paranjape, medical director at Carter BloodCare in Bedford.
"We do have a lot of people who travel," Paranjape added. "And people who travel to South America and at-risk countries are going to bring it back not knowing that they may have contracted it."
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Carter BloodCare supplies about 90 percent of the blood supply used in North-Central Texas and East Texas, and will begin testing for the Zika virus beginning Friday.
The American Red Cross began Zika testing on blood donated in Texas on Aug. 29.
Blood that tests positive for Zika will not be used, and the local health department will be notified to follow up with the donor.
