On the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an Arizona blood bank is all set to begin screening donated blood for the Zika virus.

According to spokeswoman Sue Thew, an Arizona blood bank, United Blood Services, is reviewing the FDA recommendation, setting up systems to screen for Zika and training staff.

Earlier, a few weeks ago, the FDA recommended that blood banks across the country screen for Zika following a batch donated in Miami tested positive for the virus.

Thew said in late August, that, “We are doing automatic testing in Florida and will be implementing, within four weeks, the testing on all donated blood right here in Arizona.”

“Currently United Blood Services is testing all blood from donors who have traveled to a Zika-impacted area.”

“Every donor who comes in to give blood is shown a special sheet that they’re asked to review and (it) has a list of all the impacted countries.” “Should that person have traveled to one of those areas, we automatically implement the testing,” Thew said.

According to the Tempe resident Serena Christianson, who volunteered at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and has donated blood, said testing for the virus is a good idea. “I think it’s important to actually be over cautious.” “I’m definitely appreciative of the fact that they are being thorough with testing for Zika and honestly testing for any kind of diseases in our blood system,” Christianson said.

“Any recommendation they have that has people’s health and is putting that at the forefront I think it should be honored and it shouldn’t be challenged in anyway,” Christianson said.

“You can’t catch anything from donating blood and even on the receiving end, our blood supply has never been safer,” Thew said.

Also Read: FDA expands Zika screening to all US blood centers!

Nandini