What is the risk of a transfusion-transmitted infection?

What is this research about?

Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to manage the supply of blood and blood products in Canada, except for the Province of Québec. Canadian Blood Services tests every blood donation for known transmissible diseases, notably for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. At least two tests are done for each of these viruses to detect the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of the virus itself, as well as antibodies (the body makes these in response to a viral infection). However, if someone has been very recently infected, there is a period of time before their body will start to make antibodies, and even a few days or weeks before the amount of virus in the blood is high enough to be detected.

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