Surrogate test performance for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) for convalescent plasma (CCP): How useful could they be?

Background: COVID-19 high-titer CCP selection is a concern, because neutralizing antibody (nAb) testing requires sophisticated labs and methods. Surrogate tests are an alternative for measuring nAb levels in plasma bags, including those that are pathogen-reduced.

Study Design/methods: We studied a panel consisting of 191 samples from convalescent donors tested by nAb (CPE-VNT), obtained from 180 CCP donations (collection: March 20-January 21) and 11 negative controls, with a total of 80 and 111 serum and plasma samples (71 amotosalen/UV treated), with nAb titers ranging from negative to 10,240.

Reduced volume of red blood cell priming is safe for pediatric patients undergoing therapeutic plasma exchange.

Rational: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) procedures in pediatric patients are challenging due to the large extracorporeal volume of the cell separators, which were designed for adults. Red blood cell (RBC) priming is an alternative for overpassing the risks of hypovolemia, but data referring to the volume of packed RBCs to be infused are yet incomplete. Restricting the volume of RBC priming may potentially be associated with less transfusion reactions.