Human immunodeficiency virus 1 dual-target nucleic acid technology improves blood safety: 5 years of experience of the German Red Cross blood donor service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen.

Background: RNA viruses are associated with a high frequency of mutations because of the missing proofreading function of polymerases, such as reverse transcriptase. Between 2007 and 2010, six blood donations with false-negative nucleic acid technology (NAT) results were reported in Germany. Therefore, NAT screening in two viral genome regions was introduced by our blood donation service in 2010 on a voluntary basis and became mandatory in Germany since the beginning of 2015.

Window period donations during primary cytomegalovirus infection and risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Background: Donors with short interdonation intervals (e.g., apheresis donors) have an increased risk of window period donations.