THE Irish Haemophilia Society is seeking discovery of BTSB documents to see if some of its members were infected with HIV by contaminated blood products issued after non contaminated products were available.
In her evidence to the Hepatitis C Tribunal on Wednesday, Ms Cecily Cunningham, the principal biochemist at the BTSB, said that a stock of non heat treated Factor 9, a clotting agent used in the treatment of haemophilia, continued to be distributed in 1985 after a new anti HIV heat treatment was introduced.
She said that at the time she did not have the information that the international standard was for Factor 9 to be treated for 72 hours at 68 degrees Celsius. She did not attend international conferences where such things were discussed.
Ms Rosemary Daly, who is attending the tribunal on behalf of the Irish Haemophilia Society, said the society has asked for the discovery of documents brought before the tribunal, but has not yet received them. The Irish Haemophilia Society sought, but was not granted, legal representation at the tribunal.
Asked if the society thought that some of its members had been infected by contaminated blood products issued after clean products were available, she said: "That is our feeling and our belief. But we can't stand over it without the documents."
She said the society was not interested in legal action against the BTSB. "We are interested in finding out what went wrong, and making sure it never happens again.