Fewer blood donors tested positive for HIV in 2005 as the number of people who gave blood mainly to check if they were infected with the virus fell, a health ministry survey indicated Thursday.
The rate of HIV-infected blood samples found among 100,000 samples came to 1.468 in 2005, down from 1.681 in 2004, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare survey found.
Total blood samples collected by the Japan Red Cross Society in the reporting year declined to about 5.31 million, among which 78 tested positive for HIV, down from 5.47 million in 2004, when 92 tested positive.
It was the first time the number of HIV-positive samples decreased year-on-year since 1988, ministry officials said. Donated blood has been checked for HIV since 1986.
They said the outcome suggested more people who were worried about possible HIV infection went to public health centers and municipal-run facilities because HIV-testing equipment has improved at such facilities.
The officials also said the Red Cross checked donors' identities and interviewed them more carefully than in the past, which also discouraged people who wanted to test for HIV infection from going to Red Cross blood drives.
Both the central and local governments have been trying to boost measures so more people can take HIV tests at public facilities.