Treating Patients with Blood-Borne Viruses

Viral infections are a public health concern in people of reproductive age globally, with prevalence varying according to location and exposure to risk factors. About 37 million people are estimated to be infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with about 50-60% of them in their reproductive ages. Viral coinfections in an individual are common, with about three million HIV-infected persons also infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). With the improvement and efficacy in highly activated antiretroviral therapy (HAART), public awareness, and healthy diets, HIV-infected persons are living longer than they used to a decade or two ago, and many of them wish to fulfill their human right to produce a family of their own. To accomplish this safely, many people are resorting to medically assisted reproduction to minimize the risk of infecting their partners and/or their prospective children. In order not to deny virus-infected people fertility treatment, laboratories should put in place safety measures to prevent or avoid contamination and infection of the laboratory personnel and patients receiving treatment.