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For the safety of blood recipients, each unit of donated blood goes through the following tests to help ensure patient safety.

HIV-1, HIV-2	Test for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
HBc	Test for antibody produced during and after infection with HBV - Hepatitis B
HCV	Test for antibody to HCV (Hepatitis C)
HTLV-I and HTLV-II	Test for antibodies to HTLV-I and HTLV-II (Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus)
HBsAg	Hepatitis B Surface Antigen — Screens for HBV
ABO/Rh	Test for blood type
PKTP (Syphilis)	Test for syphilis
Red Cell Antibody	Test to determine the presence of atypical antibodies
Chagas' Disease	Test for Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan that causes Chagas' Disease. Learn more about Chagas' Disease (Adobe PDF file)
NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing)	NAT is a technology that can detect the genetic material of Hepatitis C virus, HIV and West Nile Virus faster and more accurately than other tests, which react to antibodies of those viruses. All of the blood collected by the American Red Cross for transfusion is now subjected to NAT for Hepatitis C, HIV and West Nile Virus. Learn more about West Nile Virus (Adobe PDF file)
CMV	This optional test may be used to test blood for cytomegalovirus. CMV negative blood may be required in some medical situations. Learn more about CMV (Adobe PDF file)