Bayer gets approval to test blood plasma for HIV

Germany-based Bayer has received U.S. regulatory approval to test blood plasma for HIV, enabling it to confirm the safety of plasma used in its treatments. The Food and Drug Administration has also approved the HIV plasma test of Roche Holding; Bayer's test uses some of the same technology. Bayer says its test, which examines nucleic acid in blood plasma, is as sensitive as those available through commercial labs. Bayer will be the first plasma processor to conduct internal testing of plasma after the FDA approval, meaning infected donors can be identified and barred from making further donations.