Safety of plasma-derived blood products transfusions harvested from anti-SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative donors

Abstract

Introduction. Testing for antibodies to the causative agent COVID-19 is not mandatory for donor blood or its components. It is unknown whether transfusion of plasma-containing blood components from seropositive donors is a safe procedure especially for immunocompromised hematological patients. Aim. To assess the frequency of adverse reactions and complications in hematological patients after transfusions of plasma-derived blood products harvested from anti-SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative donors. Material and Methods. 9152 transfusions of components harvested from anti-SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative donors were carried out from April 29, 2020 to January 21, 2022 at the NMRC for Hematology. Post-transfusion reactions and complications were analyzed in 576 hematological patients. 2059 plasma units, 327 cryosupernatant plasma units and 6766 cryoprecipitate doses were assessed. The occurrence of adverse reactions (hyperthermia) and complications within two hours after transfusion were evaluated. Results. Among 9152 blood units, anti-SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 2660 (29 %) cases and 6492 (71 %) were antibodies free. The analysis of adverse reactions and complications showed no significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions in recipients after anti-SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative blood unit transfusions. Conclusion. There were no significant differences in the number of post-transfusion reactions when using donor blood components (fresh frozen plasma, cryosupernatant plasma, cryoprecipitate) obtained from donors in whose blood antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected or not detected. Plasma-derived blood products from seropositive donors with a high degree of probability can be used to correct the plasma hemostasis path in hematological patients along with components prepared from seronegative donors.