When precaution outlasts evidence: reconsidering blood collection in French Guiana
France has suspended blood collection in French Guiana, a French overseas territory in South America since 2005 because of concerns regarding transfusion-transmitted infections, particularly Trypanosoma cruzi, HIV, malaria, and other tropical pathogens. At that time, the precautionary principle was understandable. Diagnostic tools were less sensitive, the epidemiology of several infections remained poorly characterized, and the decision followed the HIV-contaminated blood crisis that profoundly shaped French transfusion policy.
Authors
- Loïc Epelboin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3481-5991)
- Mathieu Nacher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9397-3204)
- Félix Djossou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6761-0511)
- Olivier Hermine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2574-3874)
Institutions
- Inserm (FR)
- University of French Guiana (GF)
- Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon (GF)
- Institut des Maladies Génétiques Imagine (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Lancet Regional Health - Americas
- Published
- 2026-08-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2026.101604
- Primary Topic
- Blood donation and transfusion practices
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00