BACKGROUND In 2016 the World Health Organization declared the mosquito‐borne Zika virus (ZIKV) a “public health emergency of international concern.” ZIKV is a blood‐borne pathogen, which therefore causes concerns regarding the safety of human plasma–derived products due to potential contamination of the blood supply. This study investigated the effectiveness of viral inactivation steps used during the routine manufacturing of various plasma‐derived products to reduce ZIKV infectivity. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Human plasma and intermediates from the production of various plasma‐derived products were spiked with ZIKV and subjected to virus inactivation using the identical techniques (either solvent/detergent [S/D] treatment or pasteurization) and conditions used for the actual production of the respective products. Samples were taken and the viral loads measured before and after inactivation. RESULTS After S/D treatment of spiked intermediates of the plasma‐derived products Octaplas(LG), Octagam, and Octanate, the viral loads were below the limit of detection in all cases. The mean log reduction factor (LRF) was at least 6.78 log for Octaplas(LG), at least 7.00 log for Octagam, and at least 6.18 log for Octanate after 60, 240, and 480 minutes of S/D treatment, respectively. For 25% human serum albumin (HSA), the mean LRF for ZIKV was at least 7.48 log after pasteurization at 60°C for 120 minutes. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that the commonly used virus inactivation processes utilized during the production of human plasma and plasma‐derived products, namely, S/D treatment or pasteurization, are effective for inactivation of ZIKV.

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BACKGROUND: Since 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread within the Americas and even before in other regions. In 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the ZIKV as a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC). Therefore, it is very important to confirm the pathogen safety of blood plasma products. These products generally demand an effective donor selection as well as robust pathogen elimination/reduction steps within the manufacturing processes. Here, we provide experimental evidence that both solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment and pasteurization effectively inactivate ZIKV. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The ZIKV inactivation capacity of the pasteurization step and the S/D treatment for different products and process conditions were investigated. Therefore, in-process material from commercial batches was collected and spiked with ZIKV in a ratio of approximately 1:10. Viral loads were determined prior to the safety steps and at pre-defined intervals during the individual processes to investigate the inactivation kinetics. Each process was investigated in duplicate runs. RESULTS: Sixty minutes after S/D treatment the viral titer was below detection limit during manufacturing of human plasma resulting in mean ZIKV reduction factor (LRF) of ≥ 6.78 log10. For immunoglobulin (IgG) after 240 min of S/D treatment the LRF was determined to be ≥ 7.00 log10. ZIKV was inactivated ≥ 6.18 log10 after 480 min by S/D treatment during the manufacture of factor VIII. During pasteurization of human albumin ZIKV infectivity was already below the detection limit after the heat-up phase. This finding was confirmed by subsequent test samples up to 2 hours. A LRF of ≥ 7.48 log10 was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: We showed that different S/D treatment procedures inactivate the ZIKV to below the detection limit. This effect was seen independently of various product matrices or the choice of S/D reagent at various concentrations and temperatures, while taking product-specific treatment times into consideration. We also showed that pasteurization is a very efficient inactivation step for the ZIKV. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of S/D treatment against even newly emerging lipid-enveloped viruses like ZIKV in the manufacturing of human plasma and derivatives thereof, such as IgG or factor VIII. Disclosures Schmidt: Octapharma: Employment. Kuehnel:Octapharma: Employment. Mueller:Octapharma: Employment. Pichotta:Octapharma: Employment. Radomski:Octapharma: Employment. Volk:Octapharma: Employment. Knaub:Octapharma: Employment.