Blood products possibly infected with HIV were used in hospitals until 1989, four years after the Blood Transfusion Service Board introduced a test for the virus.
This information is contained in a pack to be sent to the State's 2,000 general practitioners early next week by the board giving details of the HIV optional testing programme.
The doctors will be told that freeze-dried plasma, which has a shelf life of four years, was used up to 1989. They will be informed of the other at-risk blood and blood product from the BTSB and the years they were used during the 1980s, according to Department of Health sources.
It is not known why the hospitals were not informed of the possible infection of the plasma. This is expected to be one of the main issues investigated by the HIV tribunal of inquiry, due to begin next year.
A public information campaign will begin at the end of next week to inform people who may be at risk to come forward for tests. The details will be contained in newspaper advertisements. It is expected that a large number of people will approach their doctors about previous blood transfusions.
It has been stressed that people who received blood transfusions have very little reason to be concerned. It is not known how many batches of the plasma were sent out, but the risk of it being infected with HIV was very low.
The absence of BTSB records from this time is proving a serious handicap in following up the blood products, according to Department sources. Seven donors who gave blood after testing was introduced in 1985 were found to be HIV-positive. It is not known why 31 of their previous donations were not followed up at that time.
Last year, when the issue came under review, the BTSB wrote to hospitals requesting that they search records. It is known that one of the batches made from these donations infected the Co Kilkenny nurse who tested HIV-positive last year. There is no way of knowing how many of the units were infected.
The situation is further complicated because some people infected with HIV, who donated prior to the test being introduced in 1985, may not have come back to donate again. The BTSB has no way of knowing that they had the virus.
Medical experts appear to be divided as to whether someone who received infected plasma in 1989 could still be unaware of contracting the virus. However, the estimated risk is that fewer than 10 people may have been infected. As these people required blood transfusions, they were already ill and may have died shortly afterwards from their illness.
The delay in the announcement of the programme was apparently caused by the need to ensure that the public information campaign is clearly understood. There was also a large amount of legal work to ensure that the Department and the BTSB discharged their duty of care.