Albumin batches and B19 parvovirus DNA

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 35; no. 5; p. 389
• Main Authors: Lefrère, J J, Mariotti, M, De la Croix, I, Lerable, J, Thauvin, M, Burnouf, T, Folléa, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1995
• Subjects: Base Sequence; DNA, Viral - blood; Drug Contamination; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Parvovirus B19, Human - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Serum Albumin - chemistry
• ISSN: 0041-1132
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1995.35595259148.x

B19 parvovirus (B19) may be transmitted iatrogenically by blood, and its prevalence in blood donations is estimated at 1 in 3,300 to 1 in 50,000. As a large number of blood donations make up the plasma pools used to produce plasma derivatives, even a virus as rare as B19 in a population of blood donors may result in the frequent contamination of plasma batches. The percentage of albumin batches containing B19 DNA has never been determined. The presence of B19 DNA was investigated by a polymerase chain reaction assay (with a primer pair in the VP1 region) in a total of 12 and 17 batches of 4- and 20-percent albumin, respectively, from two different manufacturers. No B19 DNA was detected in the batches tested. The current fractionation process used to obtain these albumin preparations is seen to allow the efficient degradation and/or elimination of B19.