- (a) A certified laboratory is to conduct screening blood tests (HIV-1 and HIV-2, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and syphilis) within six (6) months prior to a woman's becoming a donor.
(b)
- (1) The prenatal care or postpartum care providers may submit testing if it was done within this time frame.
- (2) Negative test results do not require confirmatory testing.
(c) Screening tests for the following diseases are required:
- (1) HIV-1, HIV-2;
- (2) HTLV-1, HTLV-2;
- (3) Hepatitis B;
- (4) Hepatitis C; and
- (5) Syphilis.
(d)
- (1) Screening tests apply to all individuals who apply to be donors.
- (2) If a screening test is positive, the breast milk bank can defer that donor or follow up with a confirmatory diagnostic test.
- (3) A confirmatory diagnostic test cannot be a repeat of the same test but must be more specific and less subject to a false positive according to medical standards.
(4) Screening tests include:
- (A) HIV antibodies for both types (HIV, group O is included in HIV-1);
- (B) HTLV antibodies for both types;
- (C) Hepatitis B surface antigen;
- (D) Hepatitis C antibody; and
- (E)
(i) Syphilis RPR.
- (ii) This test has the highest likelihood of indicating a false positive.
(e)
- (1) Confirmatory tests may be ordered after obtaining a positive or indeterminate screening test, rather than deferring the potential donor.
(2) Confirmatory tests include:
- (A) HIV PCR, measurement of viral particles;
- (B) HTLV PCR;
- (C) Hepatitis B PCR;
- (D) Hepatitis C PCR; and
- (E) FTA (fluorescent treponemal antibody), confirmatory test for syphilis.
(f)
- (1) Breast milk banks are not required to run diagnostic tests.
- (2) However, they may do so.
- (3) Diagnostic test results override screening test results.
(g)
- (1) Donors are deferred indefinitely for any positive result on a diagnostic/confirmatory serological test.
- (2) A donor deferred for positive blood testing is to be referred to a healthcare provider of her choice.
- (3) The follow-up is done in compliance with state/federal rules and regulations.
- (4) Any breast milk from this potential donor that has already been donated and is being held at the breast milk bank is disposed of according to institutional protocols.
- (5) In the absence of institutional protocols, expressed breast milk may be disposed of in a sink or a trash can.
- (h) In all cases, whether or not screening tests are negative, a donor is deferred if her lifestyle or medical risks suggest that she could have harmful substances in her breast milk.
Codification Notes: “HIV-1” means human immunodeficiency virus type 1. "HIV-2" means human immunodeficiency virus type 2. "HTLV-1" means human T-lymphotropic virus type 1. "HTLV-2" means human T-lymphotropic virus type 2. "PCR" means polymerase chain reaction. "RPR" means rapid plasma regain.