I refer to the letter from Bharat Alva, headlined, 'Angered by donor snub' (South China Morning Post, August 2).
In accordance with international practice all prospective blood donors are screened by the Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) to determine suitability under established donor selection criteria before they are accepted as donors. This is done for their own protection as well as patients.
The questions which your correspondent and his colleagues were asked are standard questions under the existing donor selection cri-teria.
It is also clearly stated in the blood donor health inquiry form which is given to all prospective donors to read that anyone who has travelled abroad the previous 12 months or resided in Hong Kong for less than three years should inform the BTS nurses.
Interviews to determine an individual's suitability to give blood are usually carried out on a one-to-one basis in private.
In view of the long queue in the incident quoted by your correspondent, the nurse thought it would help save time in case there was anyone in the waiting queue who was not likely to meet the residential/travelling criteria.