Red Cross may have released unsafe blood.

2003 JAN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The American Red Cross may have released tainted blood to hospitals, the U.S. government said in a report of more than 200 violations of federal blood safety rules in its battle to get the Red Cross to improve the quality of its blood operation.

The Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating further to determine whether patients received bad blood.

"The blood supply is not as safe as it should be," said FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan. "I am troubled by apparent lapses in blood safety."

The Red Cross, which provides 45% of the nation's blood supply, said it is working hard to improve safety.

A …