Efforts Toward Elimination of Infectious Agents in Blood Products

J Intensive Care Med. 2018 Oct;33(10):543-550. doi: 10.1177/0885066618756589. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Abstract

The US blood supply has never been safer. This level of safety depends on a multifaceted approach including blood donor screening, sensitive infectious disease testing, and good manufacturing practice. However, risks remain for transfusion-transmitted infections due to bacterial contamination of platelets and emerging diseases. Thus, ongoing improvements in screening and testing are required. Newer pathogen reduction technologies have shown promise in further ameliorating the safety of the blood supply.

Keywords: blood donor testing; blood supply safety; pathogen reduction technology; septic transfusion reaction; transfusion.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / prevention & control
  • Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
  • Bacterial Infections / transmission
  • Blood Donors
  • Blood Safety / economics
  • Blood Safety / history
  • Blood Safety / standards*
  • Blood Specimen Collection / standards
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Blood-Borne Pathogens
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / transmission
  • Hematologic Tests / economics
  • Hematologic Tests / methods
  • Hematologic Tests / standards
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Platelet Transfusion / adverse effects
  • Transfusion Reaction / microbiology
  • Transfusion Reaction / prevention & control*