INTERCEPT Blood System Insights

Coronavirus Inactivation Reported in INTERCEPT Blood System Publication in Transfusion Medicine

Written by Cerus | Jan 29, 2020 6:18:09 AM


A study (Hashem AM, Hassan AM, Tolah AM, Alsaadi MA, Abunada Q, Damanhouri GA, El-Kafrawy SA, Picard-Maureau M, Azhar EI, Hindawi SI. Amotosalen and ultraviolet A light efficiently inactivate MERS-coronavirus in human platelet concentrates. Transfus Med 2019, following prior publications on the inactivation of the MERS coronavirus in human plasma and the inactivation of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus in human platelets, now reports on the inactivation of the MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus in human platelet concentrates using the INTERCEPT™ Blood System for platelets.

A new coronavirus outbreak is currently ongoing in China, with the first imported U.S. case now confirmed. The genetic sequence of the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, is at least 70% similar to SARS-CoV4.

The publications show that several members of the coronavirus family are susceptible to inactivation with amotosalen and ultraviolet (UVA) light. Dr. Laurence Corash said: "As new pathogens emerge, Cerus will continue to evaluate the performance of the INTERCEPT systems, in case any of these new agents are determined to pose a threat to blood safety."

The INTERCEPT Blood System is effective in reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections across a broad spectrum of known and potentially emerging pathogens by cross-linking the pathogens’ nucleic acids, and thereby blocking the replication of viruses, bacteria, and parasites present in the blood product.  In contrast, with testing, emerging pathogens need to be identified and could take time for new tests to be developed and licensed. 

References
- Hashem AM, Hassan AM, Tolah AM, Alsaadi MA, Abunada Q, Damanhouri GA, El-Kafrawy SA, Picard-Maureau M, Azhar EI, Hindawi SI. Amotosalen and ultraviolet A light efficiently inactivate MERS-coronavirus in human platelet concentrates. Transfus Med 2019 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/tme.12638)
- Hindawi SI, Hashem AM, Damanhouri GA, El-Kafrawy SA, Tolah AM, Hassan AM, Azhar EI. Inactivation of Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus in human plasma using amotosalen and ultraviolet A light. Transfusion 2018;58: 52-9 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/trf.14422)
- Pinna D, Sampson-Johannes A, Clementi M, Poli G, Rossini S, Lin L, Vicenzi E. Amotosalen photochemical inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in human platelet concentrates. Transfus Med 2005;15: 269-76.(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0958-7578.2005.00588.x)
- Hui DS, Azhar EI, Madani TA, Ntoumi F, Kock R, Dar O, Ippolito G, Mchugh TD, Memish ZA, Drosten C, Zumla A, Petersen E. The continuing 2019-nCoV epidemic threat of novel coronaviruses to global health - The latest 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 91, 264 – 266 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.01.009)