Dr Brian Colvin
The questions below were submitted by Factor 8 ahead of Dr Brian Colvin giving evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry in October 2020.
In 2017, you told the BBC Panorama programme that you did not believe a Public Inquiry “would be of any benefit to anybody” - is that still your view?
In relation to Para 16 of your statement - which pharmaceutical companies did you receive visits from and did representatives of those companies ever convey any information to you concerning viral risks associated with their products? If so, what?
Para 20 - Colvin says porcine Factor VIII was withdrawn due to concern about possible transmission of Porcine Parvovirus. As at 2009, there has never been a documented case of this happening (source: http://www.aabb.org/tm/eid/Documents/144s.pdf)
Why was this product withdrawn on theoretical grounds, when demonstrable transmission of Hepatitis did not warrant withdrawal of human product?
Why did theoretical transmission of AIDS circa 1982 not warrant the same action?
Para 21 - What steps could be taken to prevent or treat allergic reaction to cryo?
In para 31 of your statement, you say that "In 1983 - 1985 I became aware that all patients treated with large pool concentrates of any origin would inevitably develop NANBH" and in para 29, you say "The hepatitis C virus was finally identified in 1989, just as the true size of the problem began to be appreciated". Is it correct to say that you were aware of the true size of the Factor VIII problem in 1983 - 1985, before 1989?
At para 45, Colvin says cryo cannot be virally inactivated. He is wrong, sources: