Eighteen British service personnel are being tested amid fears they may have been given contaminated blood while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Eighteen British troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are being tested amid fears they may have been given contaminated blood transfusions.
The troops are being screened for a range of diseases including HIV, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The personnel are being screened for a range of diseases including HIV.
The blood transfusions were given to the 18 from US troop donors who were not subsequently given medical checks.
The blood transfusions were given to the 18 from US front-line donors who were not subsequently screened in the way they should have been.
The MoD said the risk of infection was low and that the troops could have died without receiving the emergency blood.
The MoD said the risk of infection was low, and the troops would have died without receiving the emergency blood.
Situation taken 'seriously'
Situation taken 'seriously'
As well as HIV, the personnel are being tested for Hepatitis B and C, HTLV - a virus similar to HIV, Chagas - a tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas - and the sexually-transmitted infection syphilis.
As well as HIV, the personnel are being tested for hepatitis B and C, HTLV - a virus similar to HIV, Chagas - a tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas - and the sexually-transmitted infection syphilis.
But a US Department of Defense spokesman said the American donors had already tested negative for HIV and Hepatitis and that "given the absence of disease in these donors" the chance of infection in British troops was very low.
The 18 troops had been serving in the countries since 2001.
The MoD said it was contacting every one, but advised any member of the forces concerned about a blood transfusion to contact their own doctor or medical officer.
A US Department of Defense spokesman said the American donors had since been screened for HIV and hepatitis, and proved negative.
Given the absence of disease in these donors, "the chance of infection in British troops is very low", he said.
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
Defence Minister Derek Twigg said that although the risk of troops being infected was low, the MoD was still taking the situation "extremely seriously".
Defence Minister Derek Twigg said that although the risk of troops being infected was low, the MoD was still taking the situation "extremely seriously".
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line," he said.
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line," he said.
He added: "We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved.
He added: "We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved.
"We continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time."
"We continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time."
Retrospective tests
Retrospective tests
The MoD said it was routine procedure in emergencies for British military personnel to be treated at the nearest medical facility, whether it was run by American, coalition or UK forces.
The MoD said it was routine procedure in emergencies for British military personnel to be treated at the nearest medical facility, whether it was run by American, coalition or UK forces.
The UK and US co-operate closely in developing world-class, life-saving combat medical care and we'll continue to work closely together to monitor this situation US Department of Defense
The UK and US co-operate closely in developing world-class, life-saving combat medical care and we'll continue to work closely together to monitor this situation US Department of Defense
The 18 soldiers are being tested because the blood they received from US front-line emergency donors did not undergo full "valid retrospective tests", which are used to screen donors for diseases after a transfusion.
The 18 soldiers are being tested because the blood they received from US front-line emergency donors did not undergo full "valid retrospective tests", which are used to screen donors for diseases after a transfusion.
The US Department of Defense spokesman said the US military did not have the means or time to properly screen donors on the battlefield during combat operations.
The US Department of Defense spokesman said the US military did not have the means or time to properly screen donors on the battlefield during combat operations.
He added: "The UK and US co-operate closely in developing world-class, life-saving combat medical care and we'll continue to work closely together to monitor this situation as the recipients' test results are completed and further information becomes available."
He added: "The UK and US co-operate closely in developing world-class, life-saving combat medical care and we'll continue to work closely together to monitor this situation as the recipients' test results are completed and further information becomes available."
An MoD spokeswoman said the test results were expected within the next three weeks.
An MoD spokeswoman said the test results were expected within the next three weeks.
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