VIRAL SAFETY OF BLOOD DERIVATIVES - AN OVERVIEW

The causes of past accidental viral transmissions associated with bloo d derivatives are reviewed briefly, as are the safety procedures insti tuted in Europe on the basis of viral validation studies. A comprehens ive five-class classification system for delineating viral risk accord ing to source material and comparative viral safety is presented. Newl y emerging viruses are briefly discussed in view of the viral safety o f blood products.