Transmission Risk of 2019-nCoV From Blood Remains Unknown

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the ‘potential for transmission of 2019-nCoV by blood and blood components is unknown at this time.’

‘However, respiratory viruses, in general, are not known to be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus,’ said the FDA in an online statement published on February 4, 2020.

The FDA says ‘routine blood donor screening measures that are already in place should prevent individuals with clinical respiratory infections from donating blood.’

For example, blood donors must be in good health and have a normal temperature on the day of donation.

The FDA is aware that blood establishments may wish to consider whether to provide donor education, encourage self-deferral, and manage post-donation information about 2019-nCoV, such as the following:

• Blood establishments may wish to consider updating donor educational materials to instruct individuals to self-defer and refrain from blood donation if they have:
  • traveled to areas with 2019-nCoV outbreaks, as defined by CDC;
  • lived with individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having 2019-nCoV infection;
  • been diagnosed with or suspected of having a 2019-nCoV infection.
• The blood establishment’s responsible physician must evaluate the prospective donor and determine eligibility.
• Based on the limited information available at this time, we suggest individuals refrain from donating blood at least 28 days after resolution of symptoms after a diagnosis of 2019-nCoV infection or 28 days after the date of departure from an outbreak area or the last possible close contact exposure to a person with a 2019-nCoV infection.
• Blood establishments may wish to consider updating post-donation instructions provided to all donors of blood and blood components to ask donors to report a subsequent diagnosis of 2019-nCoV infection as soon as possible to the blood establishment.
• Blood establishments may wish to consider retrieval and quarantine of blood and blood components collected in the 28 days prior to or after 2019-nCoV disease onset, or collected in the 28 days prior to or after possible exposure to patients with 2019-nCoV infection.

The FDA says ‘it will continue to monitor the situation and issue updated information as it becomes available.’

Coronavirus news published by Coronavirus Today.