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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Preparation and Pathogen Inactivation of Double Dose Buffy Coat Platelet Products using the INTERCEPT Blood System
Published on: December 7, 2012
Parvovirus B19 Passive Transmission by Transfusion of Intercept® Blood System-Treated Platelet Concentrate
Peter Gowland1, Stefano Fontana1, Martin Stolz1
1Interregional Blood Transfusion SRC, Bern, Switzerland.
Background:
Pathogen reduction methods for blood components are effective for a large number of viruses though less against small, non-enveloped viruses such as Parvovirus B19 (B19V). This article describes the passive transmission by transfusion of two B19V-contaminated pooled platelet concentrates (PCs) which were treated with the Intercept® blood pathogen reduction system.
Case Reports:
Two transfusion cases of B19V-contaminated Intercept-treated pooled PCs were described. Due to the analysis delay, the PCs were already transfused. The viral content of each donation was 4.87 × 10(10) IU/ml in case 1and 1.46 × 10(8) IU/ml in case 2. B19V (52 IU/ml) was detected in the recipient of the case 1 PC, whereas no virus could be detected in the case 2 PC recipient. A B19V IgM response and a transient boost of the underlying B19V IgG immune status and was observed in recipient 1. Recipient of the case 2 PC remained B19V IgG- and IgM-negative. B19V DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed a 100% homology between donor and recipient.
Conclusion:
This report describes passive B19V transmission by a PC with very high B19 viral load which elicited a transient boost of the B19V immunity, but not by a PC with a lower B19V content, suggesting that there is a B19 viral load threshold value at which B19V inactivation is exceeded.
Insights
Passive transmission of Parvovirus B19 (B19V) occurred with highly contaminated platelet concentrates (PCs) despite pathogen reduction. Lower viral loads in PCs did not result in transmission, suggesting a viral load threshold for inactivation effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Virology
- Blood Safety
Background:
- Pathogen reduction systems are crucial for blood safety but may have limitations against certain viruses.
- Small, non-enveloped viruses like Parvovirus B19 (B19V) pose a challenge for current pathogen reduction technologies.
Observation:
- Two cases of transfused pooled platelet concentrates (PCs) contaminated with B19V, treated with the Intercept® system, were analyzed.
- Case 1 involved PCs with a high viral load (4.87 × 10^10 IU/ml), resulting in B19V detection (52 IU/ml) and an immune response in the recipient.
- Case 2 involved PCs with a lower viral load (1.46 × 10^8 IU/ml), and no B19V transmission or immune response was observed in the recipient.
Findings:
- Passive transmission of B19V was confirmed in a recipient transfused with highly contaminated PCs.
- A B19V viral load threshold appears to exist, above which the Intercept® system's inactivation efficacy is exceeded.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirmed 100% homology between donor and recipient B19V strains.
Implications:
- This study highlights a potential risk of B19V transmission via transfused blood components, even after pathogen reduction, if viral loads are sufficiently high.
- Further research is needed to establish definitive B19V viral load thresholds for effective inactivation by pathogen reduction systems.
- Enhanced B19V screening or alternative inactivation strategies may be necessary for blood components to mitigate transmission risks.
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