The coastal province of Shandong, east China, plans to introduce AIDS antibody tests of the blood for clinical purpose later this year.
The move is part of the efforts by the province to curb the infection of the fatal disease through blood transfusion and its spread through other channels in Shandong, which has a population of about 90 million.
A public health official with Shandong provincial government said the blood screening measure will be adopted in at least 75 percent of hospitals at county level across the province.
In addition, the province vows to root out illegal blood collection and material blood plasma must be collected through mechanical devices in a bid to ensure quality control.
At least several hundreds of HIV carriers have been found in part of the province.
It is expected that articles on knowledge and ways to prevent AIDS and venereal diseases will be included into the textbooks for middle schools and colleges in the province.
(People's Daily January 18, 2002)
