Total Eclipse of the...Virus

Terminology can get a bit confusing when discussing different stages or "periods" of viral infections in relationship to transfusion-transmitted infections. I've tried to simplify some things in this post, to help you understand the differences between "windows" and "eclipses!

Feeling Positive?

Is a donor "reactive" for a particular infectious disease marker or is he "positive"? What does "repeat reactive" mean? Can you have a reactive test on a particular sample and still be categorized as "non-reactive"? When studying transfusion-transmitted diseases (podcast on this topic coming soon), you will read terminology that can sometimes be confusing to non-virologists of the world (I proudly include myself in that category!). This blog entry will discuss several confusing terms related to viral marker testing results.