Government Experts Are Evaluating A New Screening Test For AIDS Which Has Been Invented By A Cambridge Scientist

Dr Abraham Karpas describes the test for use in screening donated blood.

Dr Abaham Karpas is seen working at a bench in his laboratory. Anglia TV reporter John Kiddey explains that Dr Karpas is a virologist, an expert in blood disease, and his previous work on leukaemia has led to development of a new test for detecting AIDS in blood samples. Dr Karpas applies the test to samples, and some change colour due to the presence of AIDS antibodies. The blood donor may be healthy, and may not develop the disease, but the test will help avoid transmission of AIDS unawares through the blood donor service. Dr Karpas says this quick and cheap screening test may be a breakthrough as it is simple and accurate and he suggests it could be applied nationally in a few days. A leaflet displays a graphic representation of the immune system and an AIDS virus attack. Dr Karpas stresses that the test is not a cure for AIDS, but it offers a way to prevent the disease from spreading. This video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

AIDS; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Medicine; Medical research; Viruses; Blood donation; Blood screening

Additional Description

A Lithuanian-born British citizen, research virologist Dr Abraham Karpas worked in the department of haematology of the University of Cambridge Clinical School for 36 years. Amongst the achievements in his CV, Dr Abraham Karpas was the first in the UK to develop human leukaemia cell lines that can proliferate indefinitely in vitro. From 1985 he pioneered passive immunotherapy (PIT) treatment for AIDS patients. In 1985 he also developed an AIDS cell test for anti-HIV antibodies that enables anti HIV-1 and anti HIV-2 infections to be distinguished easily.