HEPATITIS-A TRANSMISSION BY FACTOR-IX CONCENTRATES

Factor IX concentrates unlike factor VIII concentrates have not to dat e been associated with the transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV), A retrospective study by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on a batch of factor IX concentrate used to treat two haemophilia B p atients who developed jaundice and IgM anti-HAV antibodies within 50 d ays of factor IX administration in 1985 revealed the presence of HAV R NA, These findings indicate that factor IX concentrates can transmit H AV and that appropriate viral inactivation steps to inactivate nonenve loped viruses as well as enveloped viruses are necessary to ensure the safety of factor IX concentrates.