Subject: Enserch Requires Its Food Workers To Get AIDS Test
Date: Published: 10/3/85 58 lines
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

   Enserch Requires
   Its Food Workers
   To Get AIDS Test
    ---
   Company's Action Is Assailed
   By a Homosexual Group
   As 'Ludicrous' and Illegal

   DALLAS -- Enserch Corp. said it began requiring that
employees who handle food in its dining facilities be tested
for AIDS. 
   The natural gas utility concern, believed to be the first
company to require such a test, said it began the program
about 10 days ago.  Enserch said it was also testing for other
communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and hepatitis.
   "We are testing everything that is of a communicable
nature," said an Enserch spokesman.  "AIDS is a communicable
disease.  It's as simple as that."  He added:  "What Enserch is
trying to do is look after the best interest of all its
employees."
   The National Gay Task Force, however, called the policy
"ludicrous" and said it was "born out of misinformation."
Most medical authorities maintain that AIDS, or acquired
immune deficiency syndrome, can't spread through casual
contact, including the handling of food by an AIDS carrier.
   AIDS is a usually fatal disease that attacks the body's
immune system, making it unable to resist illness.  It is most
likely to strike homosexuals, users of intravenous drugs and
hemophiliacs.  Scientists say the disease can be spread by
sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood transfusions.
   The Enserch spokesman said 22 of the 1,600 employees at
its Dallas headquarters are subject to the blood test.  He
said anyone whose blood showed signs of the AIDS virus
wouldn't be fired, but would be treated like any other
employee who falls ill.
   The blood test used by Enserch was approved by the Food
and Drug Administration in February for use by blood banks
and hospitals to prevent the disease from spreading through
blood transfusions.
   Ron Najman, a National Gay Task Force spokesman, said the
group believes the Enserch policy is illegal because the
test's label "makes it very plain it is only to be used for
blood screening."  He said the group may pursue legal action
against Enserch if it can't convince the company to stop
administering the test.
   The Pentagon has said it will use the test to screen
recruits to lessen the risk of spreading the disease through
battlefield transfusions.

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