The development of virus-free labile blood derivatives--a review

Human blood plasma derived coagulation factor concentrates carry a substantial risk of virus transmission as traditionally prepared. Intensive investigations during the past 5 years have led to the development of several virus sterilization procedures which can be applied to these concentrates as well as to other labile protein derivatives. This review summarizes detailed information which is now available establishing the virucidal potency of these procedures, particularly with regard to the contaminating viruses of most concern: hepatitis B, non-A, non-B hepatitis and the AIDS virus. Currently utilized virus sterilization procedures have greatly reduced or eliminated the transmission of AIDS virus, HIV. The transmission of non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (NANBHV) has also been greatly reduced by some but not all of these procedures. Additional virus safety data in man will be required to establish whether any of the procedures gives products which are totally safe from NANBHV transmission and to assess their impact on other blood-borne viruses.