UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This test is, in fact, the answer to the prayers of thousands of Americans facing surgery or otherwise requiring blood.</s>RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved what is known as the Eliza test to look for antibodies that cause the AIDs virus in the nations blood supply. The Eliza test was almost 100-percent effective, so clearly, finally there was a test that was highly effective in trying to pick up AIDS in the blood supply.</s>UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The test is designed to screen blood for AIDS antibodies. However, a positive result does not necessarily mean that the blood donor has Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. According to federal health officers, most people whose blood reacts positively to the test will not develop</s>AIDS. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This test will simply reveal the presence in the blood of antibodies to the virus that cases AIDS. The existence of these antibodies means only that the person test has at some time, in some way, been exposed to the virus or a related virus.</s>ROWLAND: Oh, it was a tremendous impact because there was a lot of fear. I mean, of course, anytime somebody may need a blood transfusion for whatever reason, there were concerns that you could pick up the virus from getting that blood transfusion. So clearly, to have a test to ensure that the blood supply was safe was a major advancement at that time.
CNN 20: Screening Test for AIDS Approved, March 2, 1985