title: No viremia of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was demonstrated in blood donors who had donated blood during the probable incubation period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the spring of 2009, the novel swine-origin influenza A (pandemic [H1N1] 2009) virus emerged and spread globally. Although no established cases of transfusion-transmitted influenza have been reported, the widespread outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 caused serious concern regarding the safety of blood products. The Japanese Red Cross Blood Centers have intercepted blood products with accompanying postdonation information indicating possible pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection. To study the risk of transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by blood transfusion, we searched for the viral genome in such products using nucleic acid amplification technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June and December 2009, blood components were collected from 579 blood donors who were diagnosed as or strongly suspected of having pandemic (H1N1) 2009 within 7 days after donation. Viral RNA was extracted from plasma and red blood cell (RBC) products, and RNA samples were subjected to real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the hemagglutinin and matrix genes of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 565 plasma and 413 RBC products from the 579 blood donors were available. No viral RNA of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was detected in any of the blood samples from the 579 blood donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No viremia of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was demonstrated in any of the 579 blood donors who had most likely donated blood during the incubation period. It is considered that the risk of transmitting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by blood transfusion is extremely low.
authors.affiliation: Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan. r-sobata@jrc.or.jp
authors.forename: Rieko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobata
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Shunya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Momose
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tadokoro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral