Parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by transfusion of red blood cells confirmed by molecular analysis of linked donor and recipient samples.
BACKGROUND
Extremely high viremic levels of parvovirus B19 (B19V) can be found in acutely infected, but asymptomatic donors. However, reports of transmission by single-donor blood components are rare. In this prospective study, paired donor-recipient samples were used to investigate the transfusion risk.


METHODS
Posttransfusion plasma or blood samples from recipients were tested for B19V DNA by polymerase chain reaction, generally at 4 and 8 weeks, and for anti-B19V immunoglobulin (Ig)G by enzyme immunoassay, at 12 and 24 weeks. To rule out infection unrelated to transfusion, pretransfusion samples and linked donor's samples for each B19V DNA-positive recipient were assayed for B19V DNA and anti-B19V IgG and IgM. To confirm transmission, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed.


RESULTS
A total of 14 of 869 (1.6%) recipients were B19V DNA positive, but only 1 of 869 (0.12%; 95% confidence interval, 0.0029%-0.6409%) was negative for B19V DNA and anti-B19V IgG before transfusion and seroconverted posttransfusion. This newly infected patient received 5 × 10(10) IU B19V DNA in one red blood cell (RBC) unit from an acutely infected anti-B19V-negative donor in addition to RBCs from three other donors that cumulatively contained 1320 IU of anti-B19V IgG. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences from the linked donor and recipient were identical (Genotype 1), thus establishing transfusion transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
The 0.12% transmission rate documented here, although low, could nonetheless result in hundreds or thousands of infections annually in the United States based on calculated confidence limits. Although most would be asymptomatic, some could have severe clinical outcomes, especially in neonates and those with immunocompromised or hemolytic states.
Yu
Mei-Ying W
MY
Division of Hematology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. mei-ying.yu@fda.hhs.gov
Alter
Harvey J
HJ
Virata-Theimer
Maria Luisa A
ML
Geng
Yansheng
Y
Ma
Li
L
Schechterly
Cathy A
CA
Colvin
Camilla A
CA
Luban
Naomi L C
NL
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral