The efficacy of the ultraviolet C pathogen inactivation system in the reduction of Babesia divergens in pooled buffy coat platelets. Issue 9 (25th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Castro, Emma; González, Luis Miguel; Rubio, Jose Miguel; Ramiro, Raquel; Gironés, Núria; Montero, Estrella
• Is Part Of: Transfusion. Volume 54:Issue 9(2014)
• Page Start: 2207
• Page End: 2216
• Publication Date: 2014-03-25
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Transfusion -- Periodicals; Blood Group Antigens -- Periodicals; Blood Preservation -- Periodicals; Blood Transfusion -- Periodicals; 615
• DOI: 10.1111/trf.12598
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-1132

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="trf12598-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p> <italic>Babesia</italic> spp. is an intraerythrocytic parasite that causes human babesiosis and its transmission by transfusion has been extensively demonstrated. The aim of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of an ultraviolet C (UVC)‐based pathogen inactivation system in the reduction of <italic>Babesia divergens</italic>–infected platelet (PLT) concentrates and to determine the parasite's ability to survive in PLT concentrates stored under blood bank conditions.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12598-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design and Methods</title> <p>This study was conducted using in vitro cultures of <italic>B. divergens</italic>. The detection limit of the culture assay was established and, subsequently, 15 buffy coat–derived PLT concentrates (BC‐PCs) were inoculated with 10<sup>7</sup><italic>B. divergens</italic>–infected red blood cells. Infected BC‐PCs were irradiated with 0.2 J/cm<sup>2</sup> UVC light using the THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets method (Macopharma). Viability and parasite growth were evaluated before and after inactivation. Culture growth kinetics were monitored by DNA incorporation of [<sup>3</sup>H]thymidine. The ability of <italic>B. divergens</italic> to survive in PLT concentrates was also analyzed.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12598-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The limit of detection in cultures was established at 0.1 × 10<sup>−6</sup>% parasites. The THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets system inactivated <italic>B. divergens</italic> to below the limit of detection in 12 of 15 BC‐PCs (log reduction, >6.0) and to the limit of detection (log reduction, 5.0) in three of 15. It was also demonstrated that <italic>B. divergens</italic> remains viable in BC‐PCs stored up to 7 days.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12598-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Since <italic>B. divergens</italic> can survive in PLT concentrates and given the performance of UVC, this system could be considered as an alternative to prevent <italic>B. divergens</italic> and other <italic>Babesia</italic> species from being transmitted through PLT transfusions.</p> </sec> </abstract>