Pierre Cappy1,2, Saadia Legrain-Jbilou3, Lila Chabli3, Melissa N'Debi4, Pierre Gallian3,5, Nadège Brisbarre5, Josiane Pillonel6, Pascal Morel3,7, Syria Laperche1,8,9. 1. Centre National de Référence Risques Infectieux Transfusionnels, Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France. 2. CNR Risques Infectieux Transfusionnels, Laboratoire de virologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France. 3. Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France. 4. Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpitaux Universitaire Henri Mondor, Paris, France. 5. Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE) Aix-Marseille Université - IRD 190 - Inserm 1207 - IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France. 6. Santé Publique France, Département des maladies infectieuses, Saint-Maurice, France. 7. UMR 1098 INSERM, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France. 8. Laboratoire des virus d'intérêt transfusionnel et émergents, Marseille, France. 9. Direction médicale, EFS Siège, Saint Denis, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence to support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is probably not transmissible by blood transfusion. In this study, we use the data gathered over one year by the French haemovigilance network on post-donation information related to SARS-CoV-2, and virological investigations on corresponding plasma to explore viral transmission by transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whenever a donor reported COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal (NP) PCR test, information regarding diagnosis and symptoms was collected using a specific questionnaire, and repository plasmas were screened using the SARS-COV-2 R-GENE® assay (Biomérieux). RNA sequencing (Sanger and deep sequencing) and virus isolation on Vero E6 cells were applied in plasma from donors testing positive. RESULTS: We investigated 1,092 SARS-CoV-2-related post-donation information (PDI) reports. PDI donors were younger than the global donor population and donated more often in the Paris region. Sixty-eight percent reported a positive NP real-time (RT)-PCR or antigenic testing and 22% of these also had symptoms at the time of testing. Thirty-seven (3.4%) donations tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, 11 (30%) were confirmed by another molecular assay, and 7 (19%) by sequencing, confirming low viral level. Most RNAemic blood donors donated in southern regions and in Paris. There was no difference in demographic data or duration parameter between RNAemic and non-RNAemic donors. Duration parameter was determined as the time elapsed between donation and: i) the onset of symptoms; ii) a positive NP RT-PCR; and iii) PDI. Cell culture experiments did not show any infectivity related to RNAemic plasmas. DISCUSSION: SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in a small fraction of blood donors with PDI, reporting very low levels of RNA. The corresponding plasma is probably not infectious. These findings highlight the value of haemovigilance and PDI to guide blood safety strategies.
BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence to support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is probably not transmissible by blood transfusion. In this study, we use the data gathered over one year by the French haemovigilance network on post-donation information related to SARS-CoV-2, and virological investigations on corresponding plasma to explore viral transmission by transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whenever a donor reported COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal (NP) PCR test, information regarding diagnosis and symptoms was collected using a specific questionnaire, and repository plasmas were screened using the SARS-COV-2 R-GENE® assay (Biomérieux). RNA sequencing (Sanger and deep sequencing) and virus isolation on Vero E6 cells were applied in plasma from donors testing positive. RESULTS: We investigated 1,092 SARS-CoV-2-related post-donation information (PDI) reports. PDI donors were younger than the global donor population and donated more often in the Paris region. Sixty-eight percent reported a positive NP real-time (RT)-PCR or antigenic testing and 22% of these also had symptoms at the time of testing. Thirty-seven (3.4%) donations tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, 11 (30%) were confirmed by another molecular assay, and 7 (19%) by sequencing, confirming low viral level. Most RNAemic blood donors donated in southern regions and in Paris. There was no difference in demographic data or duration parameter between RNAemic and non-RNAemic donors. Duration parameter was determined as the time elapsed between donation and: i) the onset of symptoms; ii) a positive NP RT-PCR; and iii) PDI. Cell culture experiments did not show any infectivity related to RNAemic plasmas. DISCUSSION: SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in a small fraction of blood donors with PDI, reporting very low levels of RNA. The corresponding plasma is probably not infectious. These findings highlight the value of haemovigilance and PDI to guide blood safety strategies.
Authors: Hee Jeong Cho; Ji Wan Koo; Soong Ki Roh; Yu Kyung Kim; Jang Soo Suh; Joon Ho Moon; Sang Kyun Sohn; Dong Won Baek Journal: J Infect Public Health Date: 2020-05-13 Impact factor: 3.718
Authors: Victor M Corman; Holger F Rabenau; Ortwin Adams; Doris Oberle; Markus B Funk; Brigitte Keller-Stanislawski; Jörg Timm; Christian Drosten; Sandra Ciesek Journal: Transfusion Date: 2020-05-27 Impact factor: 3.337