Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Blood Products Screening.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he has satisfied himself that the screening of blood and blood products operated by the Blood Transfusion Service Board is sufficient to ensure adequate protection to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10379/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The BTSB currently tests for HIV, HTLV-1/2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis using standard validated methods. The range of tests are as comprehensive as any in Europe and conform to existing international standards.

My Department has approved the introduction by the BTSB of new technologies to improve the safety of the blood supply. Specifically, the BTSB is proposing to introduce the following procedures.

Methylene Blue technology is a method of virus inactivation of plasma for transfusion. Plasma carries a small residual risk of transmitting viral infections since it is not subjected to a virus inactivation process in the same way as li ="3"factor concentrates now are. In recent years techniques have become available for producing plasma that has been subjected to a virus inactivation step. Methylene Blue technology is one such technique and is due to be introduced by the BTSB during the current year.

Leucodepletion involves the removal of white blood cells from cellular blood components. A substantial percentage of cellular components have been leucodepleted in the past for particular patients. The proposal to introduce universal leucodepletion of all cellular blood components is seen as a potential major improvement in the safety of the blood supply in the face of the threat of new variant CJD, nvCJD.

PCR testing, the generic term to describe genome amplification technology, shortens the window period for detection of newly-acquired virus infections The technology is the most sensitive way of detecting the presence of viruses in the blood of patients and of donors.

The EU regulatory authority, the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products, CPMP, is planning to introduce a requirement that plasma for use in the preparation of blood products should be PCR tested with effect from 1 January 1999. The BTSB is currently preparing for the introduction of PCR testing.