The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) recently was found partially liable for $1.35 million in damages awarded to a man infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when he received transfusions of several units of blood platelets during open-heart surgery in 1984.William Snyder contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) from a transfusion of blood that the Bergen Community Blood Center (BCBC), a nonprofit blood bank, had provided to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The BCBC is a member of the AABB, an industry standard-setting association of blood banks and blood-banking professionals.

Upholing a lower court ruling, a jury in the Supreme Court of New Jersey found the AABB negligent for failing to recommend surrogate testing (for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen) and therefore responsible for 30% of the $1.35 million in damages awarded to Snyder - after interest is accounted for, this comes to more than $460,000 - because while there was no direct test available at the time to determine whether blood was infected with HIV, the court deemed other means of making that determination were available.

The AABB, however, said it used all the best scientific knowledge available at the time to determine the quality of the blood used. Further, the court incorrectly concluded that the AABB placed economic self-interest above that of the public health, and that the court overestimated the power that the AABB had at the time to enforce surrogate testing, according to Eric R. Slayton, division director, strategic planning and communications for the AABB, based in Bethesda, Md.