Red gold: the epic story of blood. Pt. 3, Tainted blood.

Third in a 4-part series about blood (only parts 1, 3 and 4 in MFAC). This programme looks at blood collection and transfusion in the latter half of the 20th century. The urge for blood donations had eased off at the end of the Second World War but when the explosion of a cargo ship in Texas City in 1947 created hundreds of casualites, authorities realised they needed to be prepared for disasters. Hollywood actor Gregory Peck was one of the stars who took part in the drive for peacetime blood donations. Open heart surgery also increased the demand for blood. Blood companies cashed in on this, setting up near student campuses, military bases and in ghettos where there was a steady supply of people willing to give blood for an instant fee. Until the 1960s, blood donations were only tested for syphilis, so diseases such as hepatitis were easily passed on through blood donors. Although the practice of blood banks was stopped, the discovery of fractionation of plasma led to industry plants being set up. Haemophiliacs benefited greatly from plasma fraction but the lack of testing of plasma donors meant that hepatitis and AIDS were passed on through donations. The programme briefly covers the revolution in Nicaragua in the late 70s, sparked by controversy over the profits of plasma donor clinics being shared with corrupt President Anastacio Somosa. Susie Quintana, who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, is cited as the first person to sue the company that provided the contaminated blood. In the 1980s, more than 10,000 people contracted AIDs and/or hepatitis through blood donations. The programme ends with the view that at this time, the public felt they could not trust blood banks and health officials.