Parasite for Chagas Disease Inactivated in Donor Blood

The data were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks in San Antonio (TX, USA).

The parasite can be transmitted through blood transfusion, but currently there are no routine tests to screen donated blood for its presence. In the in vitro study, therapeutic doses of donor platelets were inoculated with high levels of T cruzi. The inoculated blood was then treated with a process called Helinx, developed by Cerus for controlling biologic replication. The results demonstrated inactivation and reduction of T cruzi to undetectable levels.

To enhance the safety of blood transfusions, Cerus Corp. (Concord, CA, USA) and Baxter Healthcare Corp. (Deerfield, IL, USA) are collaborating on the development of Intercept Blood Systems using the Helinx process. The companies are seeking U.S. and European approval of an Intercept Platelet System and are conducting a phase III clinical trial of an Intercept Plasma System. A phase III trial of an Intercept Red Blood Cell System is in the planning stage.




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