Reducing the financial impact of pathogen inactivation technology for platelet components: our experience.

Background: Pathogen inactivation (PI) technology for blood components enhances blood safety by inactivating viruses, bacteria, parasites, and white blood cells. Additionally, PI for platelet (PLT) components has the potential to extend PLT storage time from 5 to 7 days.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted into the percentage of outdated PLT components during the 3 years before and after the adoption of PLT PI technology in our institution.

Asymptomatic infection by Leishmania infantum in blood donors from the Balearic Islands (Spain).

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is a zoonotic disease endemic throughout the Mediterranean basin. The existence of asymptomatic human infection entails the risk of transmission by blood transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: The prevalence of Leishmania infection was studied in 1437 blood donors from the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Formentera, and Minorca) using immunologic (Western blot [WB] and delayed-type hypersensitivity [DTH]), parasitologic (culture), and molecular (nested polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) methods.

HCV screening in blood donations using RT-PCR in mini-pool: the experience in Spain after routine use for 2 years.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a commercial HCV RNA RT-PCR screening method and provide data on the prevalence and incidence rates of hepatitis C in Spain.

Study Design And Methods: Five transfusion centers participated in the study, covering 34.1 percent of the country's total number of donations.