title: [Molecular biology and transfusional viral safety].
abstract: In this review we present four fields to which viral molecular biology has contributed: the discovery of blood-borne viruses and the knowledge of the natural history of infection by these viruses; the validation of the results of virological assays used in the biological screening of blood donations; the contribution of molecular biology in inquiries into viral transfusional contamination; the interest of molecular biology in viral transfusional epidemiology. We subsequently deal with the parameters of the discussion on the impact and the feasibility of a systematic screening of several viral genomes in blood donations.
authors.affiliation: Institut national de la transfusion sanguine, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lefrère
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012698:Serologic Tests; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*
vernacular_title: Biologie moléculaire et sécurité virale transfusionnelle.