Blood and blood products transfusion can be life saving, but if not done appropriately and with appropriate precaution, blood transfusion can also cause problem to the recipient of the transfused blood. The complications that can occur due to blood transfusion includes, transmission of infectious agent (from donor to recipient), immunologically mediated adverse reactions (such as hemolysis, graft-versus-host reaction, anaphylactic reaction etc.), non-immunologically mediated adverse reactions such as hypothermia, fluid overload, electrolyte excess etc.

There are several infectious agents that can be transmitted through blood transfusion, but practically very rarely seen in clinical practice due to rigorous screening of blood for infectious agents before transfusion,

Many countries have strict rules regarding HIV positive and symptomatic AIDS patients and do not allow entry to their countries, although there is no data which suggests that these restrictions can/have reduced HIV transmission. In general HIV testing is required who wish to study/work abroad or wish to stay for more than 3 months. Some countries do not accept any HIV testing done in the traveler’s home country and border/airport officials have power to send back the traveler if they find any anti-retroviral medication (such as zidovudin) with the traveler. Some countries accept HIV testing report of less than 6 months old. If you are traveling to a particular country, you should get the latest information (because the rules may be changed frequently) on HIV testing requirement from the particular country’s embassy.