And The Band Played On

Dr. Rozenbaum takes a sample to culture from an infected patient and sends it to Dr. Francoise Barre, a researcher who at one point studied under Robert Gallo. She and Dr. Luc Montagnier think that the disease could also be a retrovirus similar to HTLV.

At the CDC’s Atlanta offices, Don Francis asks the gathered leaders of the blood banking industries, "How many people have to die?" (220). The blood banks are entirely against the idea that AIDS can be spread through blood transfusions. At the meeting, government, media, and public health officials are present, but it appears every group has come with their own agenda, none of which include stopping AIDS. Thomas Spira, the CDC’s top virologist, suggests a test that could screen donors who are potential carriers by looking for those who have hepatitis core antibodies.

Dr. Aaron Kellner and Dr. Joseph Bove, directors of blood banks, object, citing the lack of sufficient evidence, as they believe there are not enough cases. Selma Dritz understands the point of view of the blood banks because “vast sums of money were involved with any surrogate testing of blood” and screening high-risk groups would “hurt urban blood banks that relied of civic-minded homosexuals” (222).