I have surgery soon and the doctors have said I will probably need 1-3 units of blood. I’m scared of getting HIV through the transfusion. I’ve heard this has happened. My dad said that was before all the testing blood goes through now when donated.

It’s normal to be concerned before a surgery and getting blood can understandably add to anxiety about the procedure.  Fortunately, the risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion, at least in the United States, is extremely low.  There is a rigorous self-selection and then testing process for all donations that make it almost 100% safe.  To put it in context, you will be at much, much greater risk of having an accident on the way to the surgery then getting HIV from the surgery. Good luck!

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