Prevention of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E by donor-initiated self exclusion.
Safety in blood transfusion has all along been focused on blood borne viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and C. However, infective agents that are not usually transmitted through blood may also pose risk to transfusion if the donor gives blood in the early-viraemic phase. A case report of potential transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E (HEV) is described. It shows the virus can be transmissible via blood because of the presence of HEV RNA in the blood donated. Pre-donation health screening was unable to exclude this asymptomatic donor. But donor-initiated call back system which acts as an additional safety net prevented the release of the potential infective blood products.
Lee
C K
CK
Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Hong Kong. ckleea@ha.org.hk
Chau
T N
TN
Lim
W
W
Tsoi
W C
WC
Lai
S T
ST
Lin
C K
CK
D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male