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Glendale Adventist Medical Center
1509 Wilson Terrace
Glendale, CA 91206
Ph: (818) 409-8000






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Is it possible to get AIDS from a tendon transplant?

Although rare, there have been a few reports of HIV transmission from allografts (donor tissue). The first case was in 1988. A patient receiving donor bone for a spinal fusion developed HIV as a result of a contaminated tissue sample. Now we have special testing of blood and tissue to prevent this from happening. As a result, there is a risk of about one in 1.6 million that HIV transmission can occur from a tendon transplant. This translates into the potential for one person receiving a musculoskeletal allograft over a two-year period of time to get HIV from the graft. It's more likely that hepatitis will be transmitted via tendon allografts. Again, the risk is small but the concern is great because of the potential adverse effects. To help reduce the risk of this complication, the FDA has required nucleic acid testing for HIV/HCV. As of August 2007, all new tissue donors must be screened and pretested. Although tissues cannot be screened for West Nile virus, yet, donor blood can be tested. Updated processing techniques are needed along with regulations requiring all tissue banks to screen, process, sterilize, store, and distribute allografts in the same way. This will help ensure public safety and prevent life-threatening adverse reactions.

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