A Bug Zapper for Blood: Intercept System Deactivates Pathogens in Donated Plasma

One of the biggest concerns about blood transfusions is what might lurk in the blood – viruses, bacteria, parasites or even potentially dangerous white blood cells. Intercept, a pathogen inactivation system approved by the FDA last December, allays much of that concern by essentially castrating almost anything in the blood that uses DNA or RNA to replicate (which, on planet Earth at least, is everything we need to worry about). A handful of viruses and bacterial spores can escape the system, but clinical trials and other studies have shown its effectiveness with HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses, West Nile virus, gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and, importantly, tropical diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya.
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news