Probe into 'Reagan blood' auction

An investigation is under way into how a vial reportedly containing US president Ronald Reagan's blood has come to be sold at auction.

The five-inch vial, said to contain a sample of the president's blood taken at the George Washington University Hospital after an assassination attempt in 1981, is being sold on an online auction site.

Bids are already up to just over £9,000 on the online auction with Guernsey-based PFC Auctions which is due to finish on Thursday evening.

But the Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation has condemned the sale, saying it will use "every legal means" to stop it.

Executive director John Heubusch said: "If indeed this story is true, it's a craven act and we will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase. We've spoken to GW hospital and are assured an investigation as to how something like this could possibly happen is under way.

"Any individual, including a president of the United States, should feel confident that once they enter into the care of a medical system their privacy and rights are held inviolable."

According to the listing, dried blood residue can be seen clearly in the vial, which has a label showing his name, patient identification, his doctor, date of admission and a date of birth, which is said to be incorrect on the label.

Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr on March 30, 1981 as he was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel after addressing a group of union officials.

A letter with the vial from the seller says it has been in their family for years - their mother worked for Bio Science Laboratories in Columbia, Maryland, which handled blood testing for the hospital.

PFC Auctions were unavailable for comment.