China promotes fast blood test to avoid secondary infection

BEIJING - China will make fast blood testing universal this year to avoid accidental infection.

All blood centers must have access to the nucleic acid test, which could help shorten the window for virus test results, by the end of 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Monday.

The window is the period of time after affection when the patient will not test positive.

Donated blood does not show any signs of virus antibodies during this period, which can range from nine days to three months, which has resulted in some patients being infected due to blood transfusions.

Local governments will be held responsible if they fail to promote the test before the deadline, the commission said.