It is very unlikely to contract HIV from a blood transfusion in India now, as all donated blood is routinely screened for HIV. Screening methods of donor blood have made blood transfusion safer than ever before, but people still are frightened at the very thought of receiving blood from blood banks. This is so because prior to the early 90s, when donated blood was not routinely tested for HIV, quite a number of people got infected from blood transfusion. HIV cases due to blood transfusion were rare in Kerala, even before routine screening began. Currently, the chance of a blood donation having undetectable HIV is less than 1 in 150,000, since the tests used for screening are very sensitive. However, in rare cases, if a blood donor became infected with HIV within 2 weeks before he or she donated blood, tests may not detect the HIV in the blood. (Screening tests detect antibodies to the virus not the virus itself, as it takes some time for the body to develop antibodies against the virus, the blood test may not show signs of HIV antibodies in the early stage of infection which is called the "window period"). This means there is a slight chance that a blood transfusion will accidentally infect someone receiving the blood during that period. There are two types of tests for HIV, screening tests and confirmatory tests. In general, a confirmed positive test result means the person has HIV infection. A negative screening test result means the person does not have antibodies for HIV. Screening tests are highly sensitive and will almost always tell if someone has HIV unless the person is in the window phase. At present, in Kerala and elsewhere in India, as per the National Blood Safety Programme of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), it is mandatory on the blood banks to test every unit of blood properly for grouping, cross matching and testing for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B & C and Malaria, before it is issued for transfusion. Facilities have been provided by NACO to all the government and charitable blood banks to carry out these tests. Under the National Blood safety programme a number of measures have been implemented: National and State Blood Transfusion Councils were set up to oversee blood transfusion services as independent autonomous bodies; collection of blood exclusively from voluntary, non-remunerated donors; implementation of universal, quality-assured screening of donor blood for HIV and other four infections; and reduction of unnecessary blood transfusions and establishment of more blood component separation facilities for availability of blood products instead of whole blood; establishment of adequate blood banking services at the State/District levels including provision of trained manpower and modernizing blood banks. In Kerala, KSACS is the authority to license and inspect blood banks. Blood banks are inspected regularly by KSACS and personnel are trained in quality control practices. KSACS has undertaken large scale mobilization efforts to increase voluntary blood donation through involvement of Governmental and non-Governmental agencies. It should also be mentioned here that one cannot get HIV from donating blood. Safety measures are taken during blood donation and transfusion process to protect both the patient and the health care worker from infection. Those collecting the blood wear latex gloves and face masks and needles and syringes used are disposable. Once used, they are placed in puncture-proof containers and disposed off safely. Additionally, it is worthwhile to remember that donating blood is a noble gesture that saves life of a fellow human being. All healthy people should come forward for donating blood voluntarily.