Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E in Germany, 2013.

The reported IgG seroprevalence against hepatitis E virus (HEV) in German blood donations is 6.8%, and HEV RNA detected in 0.08%, but documented evidence for HEV transmission is lacking. We identified two donations from a single donor containing 120 IU HEV RNA/mL plasma and 490 IU/mL. An infectious dose of 7,056 IU HEV RNA was transmitted via apheresis platelets to an immunosuppressed patient who developed chronic HEV. Further, transmission was probable in an immunocompetent child.

Evaluation of the performance of Trima Accel® v5.2 for the collection of concentrated high-dose platelet products and concurrent plasma from high platelet count donors, in Germany.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to test the ability of Trima Accel® version 5.2 to simultaneously collect concentrated high-dose leukoreduced platelet products and double doses of plasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Random volunteers (18-65 years of age) with preprocedure platelet counts above 270 × 10(3) /µl were recruited among the blood center's apheresis donors. All complied with the center's donor selection criteria. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen (114) collections were performed. Depending on which definition of single platelet dose is used (2.0 × 10(11) as prevalent standard in most European countries, and 3.0 × 10(11) as prevalent standard in the United States and Canada) in 107/114 (single dose = 2.0 × 10(11) ) and 39/114 (single dose = 3.0 × 10(11) ) instances, a triple platelet product was obtained. In 87 cases (76%), a double plasmaproduct (>430 ml) was collected, and in seven cases (6%), a single plasma product (>220 ml) was collected. In 20 procedures, only platelets without concurrent plasma were collected (18%). Overall procedure time was 87 ± 13 min and average platelet yield per procedure was 8.5 ± 1.4 × 10(11) (final storage concentration, 1,279 ± 153 × 10(3) /µl). The median residual leukocyte content per transfusion dose was 0.13 × 10(6) (0.02-0.98 × 10(6) ) for a single dose of 2.0 × 10(11) and 0.14 × 10(6) (0.02-0.98 × 10(6) ) for a single dose of 3.0 × 10(11) . CONCLUSIONS: Trima Accel® version 5.2 allows for collection of concentrated high yield platelet products. It offers high productivity and reliably achieves the configured yield targets. Leukoreduction performance complied with both US and EU legal requirements. Collection as hyperconcentrates furthermore allowed for concurrent collection of double dose plasma in the majority of the procedures.

Post-transfusion stability of haemoglobin mass.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Total haemoglobin mass (tHb) as a direct parameter of the blood system and ultimate target of all blood transfusions has not been evaluated for its post-transfusion survival and stability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the latter which may also be relevant from an anti-doping perspective as autologous blood transfusions remain impossible to detect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tHb was determined by the CO rebreathing method prior to and after donation of 1 unit of whole blood, as well as prior to and after reinfusion (weekly up to 56 days) of the erythrocyte concentrate in 10 men (28 +/- 7 years, 181 +/- 7 cm, 76 +/- 12 kg). RESULTS: The mean tHb content of the derived erythrocyte concentrate was 60 +/- 3 g, while the net tHb increases after transfusion of 51 g (95% confidence intervals 33-69 g) permitted proof of an elevated tHb for at least 56 days after transfusion. CONCLUSION: The results show that an elevated tHb induced by autologous transfusion allowed continuous identification although, as expected, a slow decrease of tHb has been revealed in the observation period. In reference to anti-doping, CO rebreathing permits proof of a supraphysiologically elevated tHb but possibly only if a stable baseline value is known.