Day 183 of The Tribunal
TRIBUNAL OF INQUIRY Wednesday 24th October 2001 Day 183 The Tribunal heard evidence from Mr. Seamus Dooley of the Virus Reference Laboratory. This is the second occasion on which Mr. Dooley has given evidence to the Tribunal. With respect to a study conducted by Dr. Shattock of the Virus Reference Laboratory into the number of persons with haemophilia who became positive for Hepatitis B between 1970 and 1987, Mr. Dooley said that the study identified 35 people who came into this category. Of this group, 20 were identified by name and of this group 11 subsequently became positive for HIV. At this point it is referable to the hypothesis that if Hepatitis B core antibody testing had been introduced in the early 1980s as a surrogate marker for HIV, then it would have been possible to eliminate at risk donors and thus spare some of those who subsequently became infected. Mr. Dooley went on to present an analysis of a table prepared by the Tribunal, designed to show the rate of infection of persons with haemophilia and when persons with haemophilia became infected with HIV. Mr. Dooley discussed the difference between the IgM anti-HIV result and the P24 antigen test result with Mr. Bradley for the Irish Haemophilia Society. Mr. Dooley said that if an IgM positive result was obtained, it would indicate generally infection in the previous six months to a year. Mr. Dooley pointed out that the P24 antigen test could indicate a recent or long-standing infection. The Tribunal heard evidence from Ms. Susan Stapleton, a Solicitor with the Firm Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co. Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co. represented persons with haemophilia in litigation which involved a number of pharmaceutical companies. In the context of that litigation certain testing was carried out on stored samples which were provided by the Virus Reference Laboratory. Testing of these samples was carried out by the Collindale Laboratory, ie. the Central Public Health Laboratory, Collindale Avenue, London. The Tribunal requested and was provided with, a copy of the test results.
