Biomedical Engineering Blog

Biomedical Engineering

The Biomedical Engineering blog is the place for conversation and discussion about topics related to engineering principles of the medical field. Here, you'll find everything from discussions about emerging medical technologies to advances in medical research. The blog's owner, Chelsey H, is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Previous in Blog: The Waiting List & Life After the Transplant (Part 4)   Next in Blog: Ultracapacitors for Medical Implants
Close
Close
Close
4 comments

A New Virus May Threaten Blood Supply

Posted April 27, 2010 12:00 AM by Jaxy
Pathfinder Tags: blood supply XMRV XMRV virus

Although many people may experience benign viral infections transmitted through blood transfusions, they are usually not a threat to their wellbeing. However, the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) may change all of that.

What is it?

The XMRV is contracted in much the same way as HIV, which is raising concerns of health officials. The virus was discovered in 2006 after tumor samples were taken from men who had a particular, but uncommon form of prostate cancer. Further research showed that healthy people may also carry this virus in their blood and that the virus does not seem to appear in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

What is Being Done About the XMRV virus?

There are a number of studies currently running to determine the risk of XMRV. Since this is a newly-founded virus, not much is known about it yet. There are already twelve different tests used to block dangerous diseases from entering the blood supply at blood banks. These tests screen for HIV, hepatitis C, and many more. There is research in trying to find screens for other diseases, such as dengue, malaria, and the human variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

In 2006, the United States collected approximately 16 million units of red blood cells and whole blood. Almost half of the blood is collected by the American Red Cross, which estimates that 10,000 donors a year are infected with pathogens that are actively screened for; almost half of these infections are hepatitis C.

Due to worldwide travel, it is important to recognize that infections not typically found in a particular country can quickly be found there. A lot of viruses have long incubation periods, which makes it more difficult to decipher if the cause was from a blood transfusion.

The dilemma is best summarized by Simone A. Glynn, who is branch chief of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: "You do not want to transfuse an infectious agent that causes problems. But you do not want to take blood out of the system that is not causing any problems."

Resources:

The Wall Street Journal – Potential Risk to Blood Supply Probed

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1035
Good Answers: 40
#1

Re: A New Virus May Threaten Blood Supply

04/28/2010 8:47 AM

Ambiguities and contradictions annoy me ...

"Further research showed that healthy people may also carry this virus in their blood, and that the virus does not seem to appear in chronic fatigue syndrome patients."

vs:

"Research has also linked the virus to chronic fatigue syndrome..." (found at the linked article).... followed by:

"several other studies failed to find XMRV in the blood of people with chronic fatigue syndrome, and it isn't known how prevalent the virus is or whether it causes disease."

SO: researchers have isolated an altogether new virus ... and the BIG news is:

"We don't know whether it's a problem, or just a lazy benign bug...?"

Did anyone else read things differently? Have I not had enuf coffee this a.m. yet?

Reply
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1152
Good Answers: 36
#2
In reply to #1

Re: A New Virus May Threaten Blood Supply

04/28/2010 9:55 AM

You got it right. Researchers are trying to find out how the virus may hurt people, as well as if they hurt people. So far, their research has proven inconclusive. When the virus is found in both healthy and unhealthy patients, it requires more studies to determine the exact effects of this virus on people in general. Since this virus is relatively new to the scene, it is no surprise that the information is at times inconclusive and contradictory.

Reply
Anonymous Poster
#3
In reply to #2

Re: A New Virus May Threaten Blood Supply

04/28/2010 10:11 AM

Just like the Human Papiloma Virus. Everyone has it in their skin... Yes, everyone, but it only expresses in immune compromised people.

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 140
Good Answers: 8
#4

Re: A New Virus May Threaten Blood Supply

04/30/2010 10:01 PM

CERUS Intercept System (stock symbol CERS) is now at work in Belgium, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and is under intense scrutiny by the U.S. Military. The packaging covers three parts; plasma, platelets and red blood cells. It has nearly completed the first two and is now successfully in phase I of red blood cell. All pathogens, virus (including HIV), and cysyts and bacteria are made inactive and storage life increased by 10 to 20%. The blood treated by the field useable system is nearly the same amount as was submitted. This does away with screening and screening errors. Current stock price is about $3.25 per share and upon full completion of trials may hit near $80. In the last few months the stock has risen nearly 140%. The system has taken nearly ten years of very meticulous work to get to this point. You are right, I am buying all I can get.

Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 4 comments
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (1); Jaxy (1); mog (1); ndt-tom (1)

Previous in Blog: The Waiting List & Life After the Transplant (Part 4)   Next in Blog: Ultracapacitors for Medical Implants

Advertisement