Tropical viruses are spreading throughout Europe, and we are discussing whether it is still possible to draw plasma even if the donor is initially required to undergo travel quarantine. There is a need to increase the degree of self-sufficiency for plasma products, and European blood bank authorities recommend that plasma production must be increased.
Plasma for fractionation is frozen and virus inactivated. According to EDQM (European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare), plasma can be used for fractionation without a 28-day travel quarantine being observed after travel in areas where tropical viruses (West Nile, Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya) are endemic.
In this way, we can increase plasma production, safeguard blood donors and meet demands for increased preparedness and self-sufficiency.
Speaker: Katharina Raknes, Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål
Mari Tjernsmo Melby
Rådgiver
Yngve Berre
Koordinator
