Amotosalen photochemical inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in human platelet concentrates

Abstract

A novel human coronavirus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in epidemic form in early 2003 in China and spread worldwide in a few months. Every newly emerging human pathogen is of concern for the safety of the blood supply during and after an epidemic crisis. For this purpose, we have evaluated the inactivation of SARS-coronavirus (CoV) in platelet concentrates using an approved pathogen inactivation device, the INTERCEPT Blood System. Apheresis platelet concentrates (APCs) were inoculated with approximately 10(6) pfu mL(-1) of either Urbani or HSR1 isolates of SARS-CoV. The inoculated units were mixed with 150 microm amotosalen and illuminated with 3 J cm(-2) UV-A light. The viral titres were determined by plaque formation in Vero E6 cells. Mixing SARS-CoV with APC in the absence of any treatment decreased viral infectivity by approximately 0.5-1 log10. Following photochemical treatment, SARS-CoV was consistently inactivated to the limit of detection in seven independent APC units. No infectious virus was detected after treatment when up to one-third of the APC unit was assayed, demonstrating a mean log10-reduction of >6.2. Potent inactivation of SARS-CoV therefore extends the capability of the INTERCEPT Blood System in inactivating a broad spectrum of human pathogens including recently emerging respiratory viruses.

Photochemical treatment of plasma with amotosalen and long‐wavelength ultraviolet light inactivates pathogens while retaining coagulation function

“…These studies showed that PCT with amotosalen and UVA light is effective against a broad range of pathogens in plasma. This finding is not surprising based on the pathogen inactivation efficacy previously demonstrated for PLTs with the same dose of amotosalen and same dose of UVA light 15‐20 . The levels of inactivation for representative viruses, bacteria, and protozoa were measured with PCT conditions developed for the commercial application of FFP.…”

“…Thus PCT has the potential to inactivate new and emerging enveloped viruses and prevent them from entering the blood supply. Indeed, it was found that SARS‐CoV was inactivated by PCT in both PLTs and plasma 15 …”

Quantification of Viral Inactivation by Photochemical Treatment with Amotosalen and UV A Light, Using a Novel Polymerase Chain Reaction Inhibition Method with Preamplification

“…The inactivation mechanism combines the nucleic acid-intercalating property of amotosalen with its cross-linking capabilities after UVA activation to eliminate the replicative function of treated pathogens. PCT has been shown to inactivate a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and white blood cells and create safer blood-transfusion products [11,12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Prevention of transfusion of platelet components contaminated with low levels of bacteria: a comparison of bacteria culture and pathogen inactivation methods

“…Finally, it should be pointed out that the bacterial testing approach is limited only to the detection of bacteria. The pathogen inactivation of PLT has been shown to be effective in inactivating viruses, 38‐40 protozoa, 41,42 and WBCs, 43 in addition to bacteria, thus providing a more comprehensive approach to transfusion safety.…”