Dole Defends Red Cross Contract

American Red Cross President Elizabeth Hanford Dole said her agency has violated no antitrust laws with an exclusive contract to sell a possible new blood-scrubbing technology. Dole made the remarks on a day the Red Cross celebrated the 50th anniversary of its blood services and an almost completed $287-million reorganization effort. The Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation of a contract with manufacturer Vitex that gives the Red Cross control of the new technology for scrubbing HIV and certain other viruses out of plasma. Some of the smaller blood banks that provide half of the nation’s blood could be forced out of business by the deal, competitors fear.