Abstract
BackgroundSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently been identified as the causative agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The ability of this agent to be transmitted by blood transfusion has not been documented, although viral RNA has been detected in serum. Exposure to treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet light (R + UV) reduces blood-borne pathogens while maintaining blood product quality. Here, we report on the efficacy of R + UV in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity when tested in human plasma and whole blood products.Study design and methodsSARS-CoV-2 (isolate USA-WA1/2020) was used to inoculate plasma and whole blood units that then underwent treatment with riboflavin and UV light (Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology System, Terumo BCT, Lakewood, CO). The infectious titers of SARS-CoV-2 in the samples before and after R + UV treatment were determined by plaque assay on Vero E6 cells. Each plasma pool (n = 9) underwent R + UV treatment performed in triplicate using individual units of plasma and then repeated using individual whole blood donations (n = 3).ResultsRiboflavin and UV light reduced the infectious titer of SARS-CoV-2 below the limit of detection for plasma products at 60–100% of the recommended energy dose. At the UV light dose recommended by the manufacturer, the mean log reductions in the viral titers were ≥ 4.79 ± 0.15 Logs in plasma and 3.30 ± 0.26 in whole blood units.ConclusionRiboflavin and UV light effectively reduced the titer of SARS-CoV-2 to the limit of detection in human plasma and by 3.30 ± 0.26 on average in whole blood. Two clades of SARS-CoV-2 have been described and questions remain about whether exposure to one strain confers strong immunity to the other. Pathogen-reduced blood products may be a safer option for critically ill patients with COVID-19, particularly those in high-risk categories.
Highlights
Due to a combination of factors including rapidly mutating viral strains, increasingly close animal-human contacts, and ever burgeoning rates of travel and urbanization, the rate at which new human pathogens emerge and spread globally appears to be rising over the last 80 years [1]
We report on the efficacy of R + UV in reducing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 infectivity when tested in human plasma and whole blood products
The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose causative agent is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is only the latest example of the speed with which a pathogen can travel around the globe causing successive waves of outbreaks [5]
Summary
Due to a combination of factors including rapidly mutating viral strains, increasingly close animal-human contacts, and ever burgeoning rates of travel and urbanization, the rate at which new human pathogens emerge and spread globally appears to be rising over the last 80 years [1]. The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose causative agent is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is only the latest example of the speed with which a pathogen can travel around the globe causing successive waves of outbreaks [5]. No difference was observed between patients with severe disease and patients with mild symptoms Several of these reports have indicated viremia in asymptomatic patients. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently been identified as the causative agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The ability of this agent to be transmitted by blood transfusion has not been documented, viral RNA has been detected in serum. We report on the efficacy of R + UV in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity when tested in human plasma and whole blood products
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
