title: A potentially improved approach to methylene blue virus inactivation of plasma: the Maco Pharma Maco-Tronic system.
abstract: Plasma was subjected to methylene blue (MB) photochemical virus inactivation using the Maco Pharma Maco-Tronic system which allows three units to be illuminated together, thus reducing processing time. The plasma bag system used incorporates an integral membrane plasma filter and a dry MB pill which dissolves in the plasma to give a 1-microM concentration. There is computer-controlled processing and datalogging. In an assessment of 10 pools of Group A plasma, the losses of coagulation factors, following MB/light treatment, were 23% fibrinogen, 10% FV, 26% FVIII, 11% FIX and 13% FXI. Group O, Group B and Group AB plasmas were not tested. Von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers showed no substantial change when treated with MB, and no losses were seen for antithrombin III (ATIII), protein C and vWf:Ag. Measurements of C3a, C5a, prothrombin fragment 1+2 and FXIIa indicated that there was no activation as a result of filtration.
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Service, National Science Laboratory, Edinburgh, UK. valerie.hornsey@snbts.csa.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Hornsey
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Prowse
mesh_terms: D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000032:analysis; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000032:analysis; D015956:Factor XIIa / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008027:Light; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010976:Platelet Count; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000097:blood; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D018621:PrPC Proteins; D015926:Complement C3a; D015936:Complement C5a; D000990:Antithrombin III; D005340:Fibrinogen; D015956:Factor XIIa; D008751:Methylene Blue