A British blood product known to be free of Hepatitis C could have been imported into Ireland in 1989, the Lindsay Tribunal has heard. Less safe products were being used at the time. British scientist Dr Terence Snape's evidence suggested that two children and one adult haemophiliac may not have contracted Hepatitis C if the British product had been imported.
Haemophiliac use clotting agents in powder form, which are converted into a liquid by adding water before being injected. A system of killing off viruses like HIV and Hepatitis C in such products was developed in Britain in the mid-1980s, by heating the powder to a high temperature for three days.
Ted Keyes, former CEO of the Irish blood bank, has already told the Lindsay Tribunal that Ireland was using a company to make clotting agents at the time It was known that its viral inactivation method did not kill off Hepatitis C. Armour Pharmaceuticals only made the blood product after it received an indemnity, which prevented the company from prosecution anyone became infected. Armour made the main clotting agent called Factor 8, while Pelican House itself made the clotting agent which was used by the least number of haemophiliacs called Factor 9.
Wxpert witness Dr Snape said that it would have been possible for treating doctors in Ireland to receive small but regular supplies of British Factor 9. This suggests that previously untreated Irish patients could have received a virally safe clotting agent in 1989. Dr Snape added under cross-examination that he never received a request from treating doctor or blood bank.
The significance of this is that witness Dr Emer Lawlor, the blood bank's expert witness, has said that two young children of a woman known by the pseudonym "Felicity" contracted Hepatitis C from using Irish made Factor 9. It was disclosed that the product was also administered to an adult haemophiliac in October 1990. This was just one month after one of the children tested positive for Hepatitis C. The Tribunal has now heard that a safe product was available in Britain but was not sought in Ireland.
