Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA in Blood Donations

Waheed, Usman; Wazeer, Akhlaaq; Saba, Noore; Qasim, Zahida

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716663

Cited by 6 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In a pilot study of 690 blood donor samples in Pakistan, two asymptomatic donors were identified as positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR; their blood components had been transfused to two patients, both of whom remained asymptomatic and negative for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples. 13 Of 7425 donations in Wuhan from late December 2019 to early March 2020 screened by NAT in MP of six to eight, two were SARS-CoV-2 RNA-reactive, with another two donations identified as RNAemic by targeted testing of subjects who reported fever after donation in a telephone survey; 14 none of the blood products from these RNA-reactive donations had been transfused. Likewise, in a study in France of 268 blood donors who reported COVID-19 symptoms after donation, three (1.1%) SARS-CoV-2 RNA-reactive donors were identified; none of the viral RNA-reactiveplasma samples were infectious in cell culture.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RNAemia has been detected in a small number of asymptomatic or presymptomatic blood donations. In a pilot study of 690 blood donor samples in Pakistan, two asymptomatic donors were identified as positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA by RT‐PCR; their blood components had been transfused to two patients, both of whom remained asymptomatic and negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 in nasopharyngeal samples 13 . Of 7425 donations in Wuhan from late December 2019 to early March 2020 screened by NAT in MP of six to eight, two were SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA‐reactive, with another two donations identified as RNAemic by targeted testing of subjects who reported fever after donation in a telephone survey; 14 none of the blood products from these RNA‐reactive donations had been transfused.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly for blood safety, RNAemia has been detected in 1%–15% of hospitalized patients in early reports, 4‐6 raising the possibility that the virus could be transmitted via transfusion. In contrast, other reports showed no blood‐based detection of viral RNA from symptomatic individuals 7 and limited to no viral RNA detection from asymptomatic or pre‐symptomatic blood donors including the absence of transfusion transmission following recipient tracing 8–16 . Age and PCR positivity in serum or plasma have been associated with mortality and progression to critical disease in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients 17–24 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, other reports showed no blood-based detection of viral RNA from symptomatic individuals 7 and limited to no viral RNA detection from asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic blood donors including the absence of transfusion transmission following recipient tracing. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Age and PCR positivity in serum or plasma have been associated with mortality and progression to critical disease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] In March 2020, the U.S. REDS-IV-P program, which leverages access to the blood supply and blood donors, launched the REDS Epidemiology, Surveillance and Preparedness of the Novel SARS-CoV-2 (RESPONSE) study to investigate the theoretical blood safety risk, seroprevalence in blood donors, and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis through infected donor follow-up.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Minipool testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in United States blood donors

et al. 2021

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Background SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA prevalence in blood donors from large geographic areas of high community transmission is limited. We tested residual donor plasma minipools (MPs) to determine SARS‐CoV‐2 RNAemia prevalence in six United States areas. Study Design/Methods Blood donations collected from 7 March 2020 to 25 September 2020 were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA (vRNA) in MP of 6 or 16 donations using the Grifols Procleix SARS‐CoV‐2 research‐use only (RUO) transcription‐mediated amplification (TMA) assay. Reactive results were confirmed using an alternate target region TMA assay. Reactive MPs were tested by TMA after serial dilution to estimate viral load. Testing for anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies and infectivity was performed. Results A total of 17,995 MPs corresponding to approximately 258,000 donations were tested for vRNA. Three confirmed reactive MP16 were identified. The estimated prevalence of vRNA reactive donations was 1.16/100,000 (95% CI 0.40, 3.42). The vRNA‐reactive samples were non‐reactive for antibody, and the estimated viral loads of the (presumed single) positive donations within each MP ranged from <1000 to <4000 copies/ml. When tested, no infectivity was observed in inoculated permissive cell cultures. Discussion Blood donation MP‐nucleic acid testing (NAT) indicated that SARS‐CoV‐2 RNAemia is infrequent and, when detected, the vRNA was at low concentrations. Only one RNA‐reactive MP could be tested for infectivity for operational reasons and was not infectious in cell culture. These findings support current recommendations from international and national regulatory agencies to not screen donors by NAT.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Minipool testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in United States blood donors

et al. 2021

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“…COVID-19 pandemic directly affected different phases of the transfusion process mainly the pre-transfusion examination in laboratories besides the clinical transfusion phase. In order to reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission through transfusions, urgent adjustments to the existing biosafety protocols were made by various international and local health organizations [ 24 ]. Donor screening and testing strategies are usually based on theoretical or confirmed risks of transmission through transfusions.…”

Section: The Challenge and Blood Safetymentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 pandemic and transfusion medicine: the worldwide challenge and its implications

et al. 2021

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COVID-19 pandemic has imposed worldwide challenge and has significantly affected transfusion medicine. Shortage in blood products along with concerns regarding the safety of blood products have emerged. Measures to overcome these challenges have been implemented in order to decrease the demand on blood products and to encourage blood donations while taking full precautions to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission mainly at blood banks and medical centers. Several countries have been successful in facing these new challenges. In addition, the role of plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases, has been proposed and current studies are being conducted to determine its efficacy. Other therapeutic options are currently being explored. So far, the use of convalescent plasma is considered a promising rescue treatment to be looked at.

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Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices among Pakistani Population regarding COVID-19: An Online Survey-Based Study

Uzair

Ahmad

Arshad

et al. 2022

Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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Aim The study aims to analyze the knowledge, awareness, and practices among the Pakistani population. Study Method This is an online survey-based study conducted in July 2020 among the general public of Pakistan. Pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire, designed on Google Forms Inc., was used to collect data. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and measurable coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) knowledge data. Assessments on participants' attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 included questions on transmission, symptoms knowledge, and preventive measures. Results Among the survey completers (n = 962) 61% (n = 590) were male and 39% (n = 372) were female. The majority of participants is aged 18 to 25 and belonged to Punjab. The participants had moderate knowledge regarding disease origin, clinical features, symptoms, and prevention. A vast majority of participants had good knowledge of symptoms and prevention measurements. A good number of participants were also practicing precautionary measures. The majority of participants utilize media and government authorities as authoritative sources of information. The population was also satisfied with the information given by the government. Conclusion Participants have moderate knowledge regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, reflected by a positive attitude and safe practices. There are gaps in knowledge of the virus, its origin, and transmission. Rumors affect the psychology of people, which may lead to the worst situation of panic conditions.

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Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA in Blood Donations

Cited by 6 publications

References 8 publications

Minipool testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in United States blood donors

Minipool testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in United States blood donors

COVID-19 pandemic and transfusion medicine: the worldwide challenge and its implications

Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices among Pakistani Population regarding COVID-19: An Online Survey-Based Study

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