title: Evaluation of HTLV-I removal by filtration of blood cell components in a routine setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  WBC depletion by filtration may prevent the transmission of HTLV-I, which requires cell-to-cell contact. The removal of HTLV-I-infected cells in routinely filtered blood cell components was measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Martinique where systematic screening for HTLV-I and -II and universal leukoreduction are mandatory. HTLV-I was quantified by use of real-time PCR in 8 RBC units and 4 PLT concentrates before and after filtration. HTLV-I proviral load in PBMNCs was determined in five of the eight HTLV-I-infected blood donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of MNC-associated HTLV-I DNA in RBC units before filtration was 21 x 10(6)+/- 29 x 10(6) copies (mean +/- SD). HTLV-I was detected in 4 of 8 RBC units after filtration, with a number of copies in the MNC fraction ranging from 20 to 140, following a 4.9 to 5.8 log reduction. Flow cytometry analysis performed in 2 of the filtered RBC units containing detectable HTLV-I showed suboptimal and out-of-range leukoreduction (0.56 x 10(6) and 1.22 x 10(6) residual WBCs). HTLV was not detected in filtered RBCs from the blood donor with the highest percentage of HTLV-I-infected PBMCs (9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that HTLV-I-infected cells can be detected in filtered blood cell components and shows that optimal leukoreduction is critical for HTLV-I removal.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology and Immunology and Hemovigilance Unit, University Hospital Center of Fort-de-France, Martinique. raymond.cesaire@chu-fortdefrance.fr
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Césaire
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kérob-Bauchet
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bourdonné
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Karim Ould
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halbout
authors.forename: Axelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dehée
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Désiré
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dantin
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Béra
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lézin
mesh_terms: D001773:Blood Cells / Q000821:virology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000821:virology; D003199:Computer Systems; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000821:virology; D005374:Filtration; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011786:Quality Control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral