Report Faults Military's Blood Program

N E W   Y O R K, March 14 -- Nearly half of the U.S. military's reserve of frozen blood, intended primarily to treat casualties in wartime, could soon be quarantined for being out of step with national standards.

In September, 48 percent of the military's frozen red blood cell supply will be older than the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) requirement that frozen blood have a shelf life of just 10 years, according to an audit report by the Pentagon's inspector general's office.

The FDA recommends the quarantined blood only be used in emergencies.

Also, 26 percent of the military's overseas frozen inventory is currently similarly restricted because it has not been subjected to the most current FDA-required test for the HIV virus which causes AIDS, the report said. That blood was tested using a previously approved test, which military officials say is infinitesimally less accurate. Because of how that blood was frozen, the new test cannot be applied.

The inspector general's report says neither situation is ideal. "We believe that DoD (Department of Defense) should strive to have frozen blood inventory composed entirely of fully tested, non-expired red blood cell units."

Ready for War?

The issue of having an adequate reserved blood supply is a so-called military "readiness" issue. Critics for years have charged that U.S. military readiness has been on a decline, with not enough of the Pentagon's $300 billion budget spent on training, equipping, and supplying the troops.

Citing the potentially quarantined blood, the inspector general's report, released earlier this month, warned the military may not be ready for war: "DoD may not be able to effectively supply blood products to the blood program organizations and forward medical units in the event of a major theater war."

Responding to the report, the Armed Service Blood Program notes the FDA does allow the use of quarantined frozen blood cells in a contingency. So with frozen blood younger than 10 years and between 10 and 21 years available, the Blood Program says the military would be ready, according to the report.