LOOK-BACK, PEER REVIEW, AND SAFETY
Section I. LOOK-BACK
a. Identification of persons who have received seronegative or untested blood
from a donor later found to be infected by HIV is referred to as "look-back." Because
the interval between infected transfusion and onset of AIDS can be very long, recipients
are usually unaware of their infection and may be infectious to others. To identify these
individuals, blood centers must have procedures to notify recipients of previous
donations from any donor later found to have a confirmed positive test for anti-HIV or a
confirmed positive test for HIV-1 Ag.
b. The HIV testing of blood donors was implemented as follows:
(1) Anti-HIV-1: June 1985.
(2) Anti-HIV-1/2: May 1992.
(3) HIV-1 Ag: Mar 1996.
c. In January 1989, the Armed Services Blood Program Office (ASBPO)
developed guidelines for HIV-1 look-back procedures for DOD. As there have been
regulatory changes, ASBPO/DA have revised these HIV testing and look-back
guidelines in response to requirements.
2-2. STRUCTURE OF THE DOD/DA LOOK-BACK PROGRAM
a. Program Management. It is recommended that personnel serving as directors
of ASBPO, Joint Blood Program Offices (JBPOs) and Service Blood Program Offices
(SBPOs); blood bank medical directors and members of an HIV medical advisory
committee (MAC) serve as key personnel in the coordination of the military look-back
b. Medical Advisory Committee. In order to execute the respective service=s
HIV look-back program, for each medical treatment facility, a medical advisory
committee or equivalent should be established. This committee would be the focal point
for the coordination of data retrieval, patient notification, testing, and counseling. The
members for this committee should include:
(1) Preventive medicine officer.