The taintedblood Timeline  -  what really happened...

In a letter from the DHSS, it is clear that there is a diagnostic test available for antibodies to HTLV-III and that it's being used prior to 27 July 1984:

"Since my minute of 6 July there have been further developments regarding the radio immunoassay for antibody to HTLV III. Some 2,000 tests have been carried out on AIDS patients..."

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Note: It is clear that in order for some 2,000 tests to have been carried out on Aids patients by the time the DHSS minute was written on 6th July 1984, the early diagnostic tests must have been available some months prior to this time...

Background: We know that by the Summer of 1984, the PHLS had access to 'in house' anti-HTLV-3 assays which were being developed in UK research laboratories.

In a PHLS flowchart on the introduction of the early Anti-HTLV3 / LAV assay, we learn that in the Summer of 1984, UK research laboratories were already developing early AIDS antibody tests:

Production, Evaluation & Introduction of Screening Tests

Summer 1984: "In house" anti-HTLV3/LAV assays developed in a few foreign and UK research laboratories. PHLS Virus Reference Laboratory (VRL) and the Middlesex Hospital available as primary testing centres.

NOTE: The discovery of this new information within the latest DOH FOI release (20.05.09) is very important because we are now learning just how early on in time the diagnostic assay for Aids antibodies was available - but only to certain bodies, such as the PHLS. For the actual screening of the UK's blood donors, we had to wait another year and 3 months - i.e. until 14th October 1985, when the UK implemented Donor Screening. This is very disturbing.

Tests are carried out at the CDC which show that non-heat treated intermediate purity factor products are known to be contaminated with HIV. The tests demonstrate that 70% of type A severe hemophiliacs and 40% of type B hemophiliacs are HIV positive.