The Red Cross screens thousands of pints of blood each month.  Like any collector and screener of blood, the Red Cross follows strictly regulated federal guidelines.  Fisher's blood was tested three times before he was notified of the positive finding.  In testing the blood, the Red Cross carefully followed its protocols and procedures -- doing not one, but two confirmatory tests before contacting Fisher.  The confirmatory screening tests are highly sensitive.  Two out of the three tests were positive and the third was non-reactive.  The Red Cross had no reason to believe and still does not believe that the test results were wrong.

Faced with a positive test for a sexually transmitted and treatable disease, the Red Cross, like any provider of blood, had a legal and moral obligation to inform the donor.  The consequences would be much worse if the Red Cross held back from notifying its donors of problems with their blood since most blood-borne diseases can be treated and even cured if the donor learns of its presence soon enough.  People who have received news of truly positive results would tell Fisher to "get over it."  It is far better to suffer some temporary anxiety over a false positive test … consider the alternative!