Blood products contaminated

Contamination of blood products with lymphocytes can lead to transfusion-induced reactions ranging from a mild fever to severe reactions such as alloimmunization and graft versus host disease (GvHD), in which the transfused lymphocytes (graft) survive the defensive immune reaction of the patient (host) and start a reaction which destroys the cells of the host. The patient also may develop an immune response to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type of the graft s cells and reject all platelet transfusions that do not match their own HLA system. The HLA system, found on blood platelets and lymphocytes, is more compHcated than, but similar to, the ABO blood group system of red cells. 

Filtration Filtration (qv) is appHed in blood cell separation to remove leukocytes from ted blood cell (RBC) and platelet concentrates. Centtifugational blood cell separators do not reduce white blood cells (WBC) in red cell and platelet products sufficiently to avoid clinical complications such as GvHD and alloimmunization. A post-apheresis filtration step is needed to further reduce the WBC load. Modem filters are capable of a 3-log reduction in white cell contamination of the blood product, eg, apheresis single-donor platelet units having a typical white cell contamination of 5 x 10 white cells in 4 x 10 platelets can be reduced to a 5 x 10 white cell contamination, a sufficiently low number to avoid severe transfusion reactions. 

Individuals may minimize their risk of acquiring both hepatitis B and C infection by avoiding contaminated blood products and not indulging in high-risk behavior such as intravenous drug use. 

Prior to routine screening of blood products in the early 1990s, the primary route of transmission of the HCV was blood transfusions, when the risk was 0.02% per unit transfused. Since then, the risk has decreased significantly (0.001% per unit transfused).13 Today, intravenous drug users utilizing contaminated paraphernalia are responsible for most HCV transmission. Other populations at risk for acquiring HCV are listed in Table 21-1. Approximately 10% of the individuals infected with HCV have no identifiable risk factors. 

The most likely modes of transmitting the HDV are similar to those of HBV, including intravenous drug users using unsterilized needles and recipients of contaminated blood products. Sexual and perinatal transmission are rare for HDV.16 Individuals at greatest risk of acquiring HDV are similar to those seen in HBV (Table 21-1). 

The risk factors for hepatitis C and hepatitis B are quite similar thus, the risk of acquiring the HCV is minimized by avoiding contaminated blood products and high-risk behaviors... 

Biopharmaceutical products are also subjected to screening for the presence of viral particles prior to final product release. Although viruses could be introduced, for example, via infected personnel during downstream processing, proper implementation of GMP minimizes such risk. Any viral particles found in the finished product are most likely derived from raw material sources. Examples could include HIV or hepatitis viruses present in blood used in the manufacture of blood products. Such raw materials must be screened before processing for the presence of likely viral contaminants. 

Owing to the frequency of product administration, the purification procedure for recombinant factor VIII C must be particularly stringent. Unlike the situation pertaining when the product is purified from human blood, any contaminant present in the final product will be non-human and, hence, immunogenic. Sources of such contaminants would include ... 

Medical waste has been a growing concern because of recent incidents of public exposure to discarded blood vials, needles (sharps), empty prescription botdes, and syringes. Medical waste can typically include general refuse, human blood and blood products, cultures and stocks of infectious agents, laboratory animal carcasses, contaminated bedding material, and pathological wastes. 

The problem of quality control in donor blood and blood products is of great importance for a health service in practice. Among infectious agents that contaminate blood, mention should be made of human immunodeficiency vims, hepatitis B and C vimses, and human cytomegalovirus (Ender, 2004 Mohr, 2000). In the past decade, the role of... 

Cole, R.S., Tocchi, M., Wye, E., Villeneuve, D C. Rock, G (1981) Contamination of commercial blood products by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. 

In 1997, it was estimated that 30 million adults were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, with increments of five people infected every minute. It is estimated that approximately 7% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa has been infected. The incubation of the disease is 7 to 8 years. Currently available drugs for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV are zidovudine, didanosine, lamivudine, and stavudine. The causative agent for AIDS is generally an HIV virus, which is transmitted by sexual contact, blood and blood products, the use of contaminated drug needles, and from mother to fetus. 

HBV transmission is predominantly through sexual contact, contaminated needles used for injection of dmgs, contaminated blood products and by perinatal transmission from infected mothers to their newborn. 

Ion-exchange chromatography Has a wide range of uses in the food industry, medicine and life and health sciences. This technique has been extensively used in the food industry as a quality control measure and to detect contamination with metals and organic acids. Another important use of this method is in the purification of blood products such as human albumin, growth factors and enzymes. Perhaps the most common application of this technique is the deionization of water and water softening/purification. 

Blajchman MA. Bacterial contamination of blood products and the value of pre-transfusion testing. Immunol Invest 1995 24(l-2) 163-70. 

Ephedra Kava PC-Specs St. John s wort Weight loss Stress relief Lowers blood pressure Antidepressant Through 2001, there were more than 13000 health complaints and 100 deaths Liver damage - 11 cases of liver failure as of March, 2002 Product contaminated with warfarin, leading to bleeding. Also use represents a drug claim Interacts with drugs such as indinavir... 

For example, in the UK the government was a defendant in actions brought by haemophiliacs alleging contamination with the HIV virus through use of blood products. 

Biomedical wastes are not only generated by hospitals. Animal research facilities, research centers, universities, rest homes, and veterinary clinics also generate pathological (infectious) waste. Pathological waste includes animal carcasses, contaminated laboratory wastes, hypodermic needles, contaminated food and equipment, blood products, and even dialysis unit wastes. Normally, biomedical wastes are incinerated along with other wastes generated by the facilities such as paper and plastic. 

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