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Background: Yellow fever virus (YFV) is endemic to tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa, and is currently a major public health threat in Brazil. Transfusion transmission of the yellow fever vaccine virus has been demonstrated, which is indicative of the potential for viral transfusion transmission. An approach to manage the potential YFV transfusion transmission risk is the use of pathogen inactivation (PI) technology systems, such as THERAFLEX MB-Plasma and THERAFLEX UV-Platelets (Macopharma). We aimed to investigate the efficacy of these PI technology systems to inactivate YFV in plasma or platelet concentrates (PCs)., Study Design and Methods: YFV spiked plasma units were treated using THERAFLEX MB-Plasma system (visible light doses: 20, 40, 60, and 120 [standard] J/cm 2 ) in the presence of methylene blue (approx. 0.8 μmol/L) and spiked PCs were treated using THERAFLEX UV-Platelets system (ultraviolet C doses: 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 [standard] J/cm 2 ). Samples were taken before the first and after each illumination dose and tested for residual virus using a modified plaque assay., Results: YFV infectivity was reduced by an average of 4.77 log or greater in plasma treated with the THERAFLEX MB-Plasma system and by 4.8 log or greater in PCs treated with THERAFLEX UV-Platelets system., Conclusions: Our study suggests the THERAFLEX MB-Plasma and the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets systems can efficiently inactivate YFV in plasma or PCs to a similar degree as that for other arboviruses. Given the reduction levels observed in this study, these PI technology systems could be an effective option for managing YFV transfusion-transmission risk in plasma and PCs., (© 2019 AABB.)

Background: Dengue viruses (DENV 1-4) are emerging across the world, and these viruses pose a risk to transfusion safety. Pathogen inactivation may be an alternative approach for managing the risk of DENV transfusion transmission. This study aimed to investigate the ability of riboflavin and UV light to inactivate DENV 1-4 in platelet concentrates., Materials and Methods: DENV 1-4 were spiked into buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates in additive solution (SSP+) before being treated with riboflavin and UV light. Infectious virus was quantified pre- and posttreatment, and the reduction in viral infectivity was calculated., Results: All four DENV serotypes were modestly reduced after treatment. The greatest amount of reduction in infectivity was observed for DENV-4 (1·81 log reduction) followed by DENV-3 (1·71 log reduction), DENV-2 (1·45 log reduction) and then DENV-1 (1·28 log reduction)., Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that DENV 1-4 titres are modestly reduced following treatment with riboflavin and UV light. With the increasing number of transfusion-transmitted cases of DENV around the globe, and the increasing incidence and geographical distribution of DENV, additional approaches for maintaining blood safety may be required in the future., (© 2016 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Background: Arboviruses, including dengue (DENV 1-4), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Ross River (RRV), are emerging viruses that are a risk for transfusion safety globally. An approach for managing this risk is pathogen inactivation, such as the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets system. We investigated the ability of this system to inactivate the above mentioned arboviruses., Study Design and Methods: DENV 1-4, CHIKV, or RRV were spiked into buffy coat (BC)-derived platelet (PLT) concentrates in additive solution and treated with the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets system at the following doses: 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 J/cm(2) (standard dose). Pre- and posttreatment samples were taken for each dose, and the level of viral infectivity was determined., Results: At the standard ultraviolet C (UVC) dose (0.2 J/cm(2) ), viral inactivation of at least 4.43, 6.34, and 5.13 log or more, was observed for DENV 1-4, CHIKV, and RRV, respectively. A dose dependency in viral inactivation was observed with increasing UVC doses., Conclusions: Our study has shown that DENV, CHIKV, and RRV, spiked into BC-derived PLT concentrates, were inactivated by the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets system to the limit of detection of our assay, suggesting that this system could contribute to the safety of PLT concentrates with respect to these emerging arboviruses., (© 2016 AABB.)

Background: Arboviruses are an emerging threat to transfusion safety and rates of infection are likely to increase with the increased rainfall associated with climate change. Arboviral infections are common in Australia, where Ross River virus (RRV), Barmah Forest virus (BFV), and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), among others, have the potential to cause disease in humans. The use of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) may be an alternative approach for blood services to manage the risk of arboviral transfusion transmission. In this study, the effectiveness of the Mirasol PRT (Terumo BCT) system at inactivating RRV, BFV, and MVEV in buffy coat (BC)-derived platelets (PLTs) was investigated., Study Design and Methods: BC-derived PLT concentrates in additive solution (SSP+) were spiked with RRV, BFV, or MVEV and then treated with the Mirasol PRT system. The level of infectious virus was determined before and after treatment, and the reduction in viral infectivity was calculated., Results: Treatment with PRT (Mirasol) reduced the amount of infectious virus of all three arboviruses. The greatest level of inactivation was observed for RRV (2.33 log; 99.25%), followed by BFV (1.97 log; 98.68%) and then MVEV (1.83 log; 98.42%)., Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that treatment of PLT concentrates with PRT (Mirasol) reduces the infectious levels of RRV, BFV, and MVEV. The relevance of the level of reduction required to prevent disease transmission by transfusion has not been fully defined and requires further investigation. In the face of a changing climate, with its associated threat to blood safety, PRT represents a proactive approach for maintaining blood safety., (© 2014 AABB.)