Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Rapid, Safe, and Simple Manual Bedside Nucleic Acid Extraction for the Detection of Virus in Whole Blood Samples
Published on: June 30, 2018
Molecular and serologic analysis of linked blood donor and recipient samples to rule out transfusion-transmitted
Maureen J Miller1, Maria Luisa Virata2, Hailing Yan2
1Department of Transfusion Medicine, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States.
Introduction:
Parvovirus B19 (B19V) has been found in asymptomatic blood donors. This prospective study tested linked blood donor-recipient samples from patients transfused at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and affiliated hospitals for the presence of B19V DNA and anti-B19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to assess the risk of B19V transmission by transfusion.
Materials And Methods:
Post-transfusion recipient plasma samples collected during 2002-2020 were tested for B19V DNA at 1, 2, 4, and/or 8 weeks by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for anti-B19 IgG at 12 and ≥24 weeks by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). To confirm B19V DNA-positive recipients, pre-transfusion and linked donation samples were tested for B19V DNA, anti-B19 IgG, and/or IgM. Tested samples included 1,352 subjects tested for DNA and anti-B19V IgG, or both.
Results:
No new transfusion-transmitted B19V infections were identified. Only one confirmed transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) was identified overall. A total of 19 of 1,314 subjects tested for B19V DNA (1.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.014 [0.009, 0.021]) had a positive result in their post-transfusion sample. A total of 876 of 1,290 tested subjects were positive for anti-B19V IgG antibody (68%, 95% CI: 0.679 [0.65, 0.70]). Antibody detection fluctuated among some recipients from 12 to 24 weeks.
Discussion:
The B19V DNA-positive rate in recipients was very low. All B19V DNA-positive recipients had pre-existing antibodies, indicating prior exposure. Although these data may not provide enough evidence to consider revising current B19V testing strategies, other pooled plasma testing data from around the world suggest that more widespread B19V monitoring of blood products could be indicated to prevent B19V infection in immunosuppressed or otherwise susceptible recipients (e.g., individuals with chronic hematological diseases, pregnant women less than 20 weeks gestation).
