Blood screening for influenza

Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Jul;13(7):1081-3. doi: 10.3201/eid1307.060861.

Abstract

Influenza viruses, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1), could threaten blood safety. We analyzed 10,272 blood donor samples with a minipool nucleic acid amplication technique. Analytical sensitivity of the method was 804 geq/mL and 444 geq/mL for generic influenza primers and influenza (H5N1) subtype-specific primers. This study demonstrates that such screening for influenza viruses is feasible.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Blood / virology*
  • Blood Donors*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Gene Amplification
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza, Human / blood*
  • Influenza, Human / transmission*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment
  • Safety
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Species Specificity