Blood Donation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Donation, including details on blood types, blood group, leukemia, red cross.

Prevention of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E by donor-initiated self exclusion.

Lee CK, Chau TN, Lim W, Tsoi WC, Lai ST, Lin CK

Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Hong Kong. ckleea@ha.org.hk

Safety in blood transfusion has all along been focused on blood borne viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and C. However, infective agents that are not usually transmitted through blood may also pose risk to transfusion if the donor gives blood in the early-viraemic phase. A case report of potential transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E (HEV) is described. It shows the virus can be transmissible via blood because of the presence of HEV RNA in the blood donated. Pre-donation health screening was unable to exclude this asymptomatic donor. But donor-initiated call back system which acts as an additional safety net prevented the release of the potential infective blood products.

Published 29 April 2005 in Transfus Med, 15(2): 133-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Blood Donation Research Today. All Rights Reserved.