Last Line to Secure Transfusion Safety: Pathogen Inactivation/Reduction Methods in Blood Products-Current Approaches and Perspectives

The residual risk of transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) had been decreased greatly since the donor screening methods, especially the nucleic acid testing (NAT), were introduced. NAT can shorten the period between infection and detection (window period) to several days after infection [1]. However, transfusion safety still faces challenges due to limitations of test sensitivity and more importantly the unexpected appearance of new pathogens. The newly discovered or re-emerging viruses such as West Nile virus, human parvovirus B19 and latest reported severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunya virus [2] in the donor blood endangered blood safety. Pathogen inactivation/ reduction (PI/PR) strategies provide last line of defence against various pathogens to secure transfusion safety.