Photodynamic inactivation of blood-borne enveloped viruses

Abstract

A better understanding of immunological donor-recipient incompatibility has encouraged the use of blood and its components. In 1985, an estimated 10 million units of whole blood were processed by over 800 blood banks in the United States and 14 million units of blood components were transfused. This increase reflects major advances in managing trauma, hemorrhagic and neoplastic disorders, and recipients of bone marrow or solid organ transplants. Use of blood products still involves significant risk to the recipient because of the potential for transmitting infectious agents. Hepatitis B virus (HBV); cytomegalovirus (CMV); Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); human T cell lymphotropic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1); non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis virus; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); malaria; and trypanosomes can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Screening of donors and serologic testing reduce the risk, but these precautions still provide insufficient protection since detectable HIV antibody may not be present during the early stage of infection.A better understanding of immunological donor-recipient incompatibility has encouraged the use of blood and its components. In 1985, an estimated 10 million units of whole blood were processed by over 800 blood banks in the United States and 14 million units of blood components were transfused. This increase reflects major advances in managing trauma, hemorrhagic and neoplastic disorders, and recipients of bone marrow or solid organ transplants. Use of blood products still involves significant risk to the recipient because of the potential for transmitting infectious agents. Hepatitis B virus (HBV); cytomegalovirus (CMV); Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); human T cell lymphotropic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1); non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis virus; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); malaria; and trypanosomes can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Screening of donors and serologic testing reduce the risk, but these precautions still provide insufficient protection since detectable HIV antibody may not be present during...