Eighteen British troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are being tested amid fears they may have been given contaminated blood transfusions.
Eighteen British troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are undergoing medical checks after it emerged they received blood which was not properly tested.
The personnel are being screened for a range of diseases including HIV.
The emergency transfusions came from US personnel, who have subsequently been found not to have hepatitis or HIV.
The blood transfusions were given to the 18 from US front-line donors who have subsequently been tested and found not to have hepatitis or HIV.
But the US donors did not undergo full "valid retrospective tests" to screen them for diseases, the MoD said.
The MoD said the risk of any infection was low, and the troops would have died without receiving the emergency blood.
It added that the risk of any infection was low, and the troops would have died without receiving the emergency blood.
Situation taken 'seriously'
'Uncertain time'
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 British 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.
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
The 18 troops had been serving in the countries since 2001.
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.
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.
It admitted that the blood was not subject to retrospective tests, which are used to screen donors for diseases after an emergency transfusion.
Given the absence of disease in these donors, "the chance of infection in British troops is very low", he said.
Douglas Young, the chairman of the British Armed Forces Federation, told BBC Five Live that such checks were vital after emergency transfusions.
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
"If the necessary testing couldn't take place before the blood was given at all, then clearly there should have been what is called retrospective testing, where the donors or the blood batches are checked to ensure there are no issues involved," he said.
"Because in some circumstances, if there is a problem, it's as well to know that quickly, because some kinds of treatment may be given that isn't possible a year or two years later."
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.
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
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
Normal procedure
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.
A 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 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 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.
He added that the American donors had since been screened for HIV and hepatitis, and proved negative, meaning that "the chance of infection in British troops is very low".
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.
A spokeswoman said the test results were expected within the next three weeks.
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