Chyang T. Fang

Bacterial screening of apheresis platelets and the residual risk of septic transfusion reactions: the American Red Cross experience (2004‐2006)

BACKGROUND: The American Red Cross initiated systemwide bacterial testing of all apheresis platelet (PLT) collections in March 2004, yet continues to receive reports of septic reactions after transfusion of screened components.

Detection of bacterial contamination in apheresis platelet products: American Red Cross experience, 2004

BACKGROUND:  Routine quality control (QC) testing for bacterial contamination in apheresis platelet (PLT) products was implemented in all 36 regional blood centers of the American Red Cross in March 2004.

Current incidence and residual risk of hepatitis B infection among blood donors in the United States

BACKGROUND: This study used two approaches to estimate the current incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a US donor population.

Changing age distribution of the blood donor population in the United States

BACKGROUND: The American Red Cross has been maintaining a research database of all blood donors. Such a database provides a unique opportunity for monitoring changes over time in donor and donation patterns.

Donor deferral and resulting donor loss at the American Red Cross Blood Services, 2001 through 2006

BACKGROUND: A large number of blood donors are deferred each year and many of the temporarily deferred donors do not return to donate blood. This study analyzed actual deferral and return donation data from the American Red Cross to further assess the impact of donor deferral on donor availability.

Age‐related donor return patterns among first‐time blood donors in the United States

BACKGROUND: Committed repeat donors are vital to the continued success of blood collections, yet the effect of age of first‐time (FT) donation on return behavior is poorly described. Sixteen‐year‐old donors are increasingly allowed to donate and have the highest rates of adverse events, which negatively impacts return behavior.

Human immunodeficiency virus‐1 and hepatitis C virus RNA among South African blood donors: estimation of residual transfusion risk and yield of nucleic acid testing

Background and Objectives South Africa is an endemic area for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1) infection, which has an impact on the safety of the blood supply. We studied the presence of HIV‐1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and recent HIV seroconversion, in blood donors in order to estimate transfusion risk and to determine whether nucleic acid testing (NAT) could effectively improve blood safety.

Lack of evidence of transfusion transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a US surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: Since 2004, several reported transfusion transmissions of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) in the United Kingdom have reawakened concerns about the possible risk of similar transmissions of nonvariant or classic forms of CJD.

Fluctuation of HCV viral load before seroconversion in a healthy volunteer blood donor.

BACKGROUND: Newly implemented NAT has been shown to be able to effectively identify HCV‐positive blood donated during the preseroconversion period.

Detection of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)

Sera from 39,898 blood donors were tested for HTLV‐1 antibodies using two enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Sera testing initially reactive (IR) were retested in duplicate by both EIAs. Sera testing repeatedly reactive (RR) were further tested by two Western blots (WB) and by two radioimmunoprecipitation assays (RIPA). There were 176 (0.44%) EIA IR and 68 (0.17%) RR results. On WBs, 10 of the 68 EIA RR sera demonstrated reactivity to HTLV‐1 gag gene‐encoded core protein p24, with or without reactivity to other core proteins (p19, p28, p53/55). These ten sera were the only ones demonstrating reactivity on RIPAs to other HTLV‐1 gene products ‐ env gene‐encoded glycoproteins gp46, gp61/68, or tat gene‐encoded HTLV‐1 transcriptional activator p40x. These ten sera were interpreted as positive for HTLV‐1 antibodies. Of the remaining 58 EIA RR sera, 21 were negative by WBs and RIPAs, 37 sera demonstrated reactivity to various combinations of p19, p28, and p53/55, but not to p24 on WBs. These 37 sera were interpreted as “indeterminate”, because they were negative by RIPAs. We conclude that: 1) EIA testing and WB/RIPA verification identified 10 (0.025%) HTLV‐1 infected individuals among 39,898 low‐risk blood donors; 2) anti‐p24 may be a more sensitive and specific indicator of HTLV‐1 infection than antibodies to p19, p28, or p53/55; and 3) presently, both WB and RIPA are needed to verify HTLV‐1 EIA reactivity.