In Texas, blood donations are being tested for the Zika virus to avoid spread of the infection through transfusion, according to an NBCDFW 5 report. The blood donation testing is line with the FDA's revised guidance, issued late in August, calling for officials to test all blood donations for Zika virus.
Initially, the federal agency urged only areas with active Zika virus transmissions to screen donated blood for the virus. Now, the agency recommends every state and U.S. territory to test donated blood for Zika.
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Already, the testing has identified the possibility of the virus in two different pints of donated blood in Texas, according to the report. Nancy Haubert, director of operations at Creative Testing Solutions, which includes three donor testing laboratories, notes that while the pints of blood were initially reactive, officials haven't confirmed the presence of Zika.
Most states have until Nov. 18 to begin testing blood donations, reports NBCDFW 5.