Presence of GB Virus C in Whole-Blood Derivatives: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is necessary for the prevention and treatment of a variety of life-threatening injuries and diseases. However, viral contamination of these products is a great threat to recipients. Screening donors for GB virus C by nucleic acid testing is not routinely implemented worldwide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prevalence of GBV-C RNA in whole blood/red cell components. Methods: In this cross sectional pilot study, we collected 153 units of packed RBCs from blood banks of two public hospitals in Gorgan (northeast of Iran), between October and November 2014. The samples were screened for the presence of GBV-C RNA in plasma by nested RT-PCR using specific primers targeting highly conserved regions of 5' UTR of GBV-C. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). Results: Overall, 48 (31.37%) whole blood or red cell components were positive for GBV-C viremia. The GBV-C RNA was detected in 31/88 citrate phosphate dextrose-adenine 1 (CPDA1) RBC, 16/50 washed RBC and 1/13 reduced-leukocyte RBC. However, whole blood CPDA1 was negative for GBV-C viremia. Direct sequencing of PCR products confirmed GBV-C contamination. Conclusions: Transmission of GBV-C infection was observed in blood products. Thus, efforts should be made to develop new strategies for assuring blood transfusion safety.

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“…Kheirabad et al (2016) demonstrated a significant association between the prevalence of viruses, such as HCV and HIV in HD patients and GBV-C. Recently, the following strategies have emerged to reduce the risk of infections following blood transfusion: (1) careful donor selection, (2) regular screening of blood donors for HBV, HCV, HIV, human T-cell viruses, and cytomegalovirus (in high-incidence areas), and (3) virus removal and inactivation, particularly double inactivation of blood products and plasma derivatives, excluding complete blood or RBC components (Ghanbari et al, 2010;Kelishadi et al, 2019). The history of kidney transplantation and history of surgery also had no significant differences in prevalence of GBV-C, which is in agreement with Rinonce et al (2017).…”

Molecular Analysis of Human Pegivirus (GBV-C) Infecting Hemodialysis Patients in Baghdad, Iraq: A Single Center Study

“…Kheirabad et al (2016) demonstrated a significant association between the prevalence of viruses, such as HCV and HIV in HD patients and GBV-C. Recently, the following strategies have emerged to reduce the risk of infections following blood transfusion: (1) careful donor selection, (2) regular screening of blood donors for HBV, HCV, HIV, human T-cell viruses, and cytomegalovirus (in high-incidence areas), and (3) virus removal and inactivation, particularly double inactivation of blood products and plasma derivatives, excluding complete blood or RBC components (Ghanbari et al, 2010;Kelishadi et al, 2019). The history of kidney transplantation and history of surgery also had no significant differences in prevalence of GBV-C, which is in agreement with Rinonce et al (2017).…”