Description:
Transfusion of blood products carries
the risk of pathogen transmission, despite careful donor selection and
screening tests. This is due to viral transmission from window-period
donations, the emergence of new pathogens such as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease, for which routine screening tests are not yet available, and bacterial contamination. Techniques have been developed to inactivate pathogens
in both fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates. The relative benefits to
the recipient and the ease of incorporation into blood component processing
are discussed in this article for the technologies currently available.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss infectious pathogens in blood
- Discuss the use of frozen plasma to treat congenital
coagulation deficiencies
- Reflect on pharmacoeconomics and the pursuit of zero risk
Author(s):
J. E. Jackson
Launched: 2004