vCJD test may impact blood donation
A blood test for the human form of mad cow disease could be available within 18 months but experts fear it may put people off giving blood, according to reports.
Screening to detect variant CJD is currently in development but government advisors say it may cause a drop in the number of blood donors.
Members of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs (Sabto) told reporters that patients will fear being told they have the incurable disease after making a donation.
The organisation also said the tests would not be 100% accurate and may give some false positive results.
Sabto will hold a public meeting to discuss vCJD and safety measures to control the spread of the disease.
Chairman Professor John Forsythe told the BBC: "If you have a test done and there is a possibility of a false positive of a disease for which there is no treatment at the moment that is very worrying.
"It might put anyone off donating."
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is one of a group of rare degenerative brain disorders which occur in humans and some animals.
According to government figures, 164 people have died from vCJD in the UK since 1990.
The Department of Health has allocated £7.3 million for research into a test for the disease.
