An estimated 252 haemophiliacs were infected with HIV, hepatitis C or both viruses, according to a review of test results conducted by UCD's Virus Reference Laboratory.
Mr Seamus Dooley, laboratory manager at the VRL, told the Lindsay Tribunal its records showed 69 haemophiliacs were infected with both HIV and hepatitis C, 35 with just HIV and 148 with just hepatitis C.
The figures were derived from test results from the past two decades in conjunction with retrospective testing conducted recently on stored samples. The Irish Haemophilia Society had previously put the total number of infected patients at just 221.
Mr Dooley said it was possible even more haemophiliacs were infected, as the VRL figures were based only on samples. Under cross-examination by Mr Raymond Bradley, solicitor for the Irish Haemophilia Society, Mr Dooley conceded there was a discrepancy between his estimate of 104 HIV infections and an estimate of 116 in the VRL's latest "Virus Alert" bulletin. He said he believed the larger figure included a number of duplicates and his estimate was the accurate one.
He said to the best of his knowledge there was no national database showing the total number of positive test results.
The tribunal has heard of disagreement over infection data, with the National Haemophilia Treatment Centre (NHTC) estimating a total of 105 HIV cases among haemophiliacs.
Mr Dooley noted the VRL has reduced capacity to store blood samples following testing and, therefore, its ability to carry out retrospective testing was limited. Asked whether this was a matter of concern, Mr Dooley replied it would be "impractical" to keep the volume of samples it kept before: "We would be building buildings to store specimens."
Later, Dr Alan Shattock, a senior lecturer at UCD, gave evidence on his role in arranging HIV tests through the VRL for Prof Ian Temperley, former medical director of the NHTC.
