PCR detects HCV RNA in a plasma pool contaminated by a single preseroconversion donation of genotype 5a

Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HCV-RNA-positive plasma pools in Belgium, to validate our PCR method and to increase the saf ety of the released blood products. Materials and Methods: Plasma pools con sisting each of about 5,000 donations from Belgian unpaid volunteer blood d onors were analysed by PCR for the presence of HCV RNA. Two different extra ction methods were compared and validated. Results: Two out of 367 plasma p ools were found to be HCV RNA positive and were discarded. For one of these two pools, the look-back procedure identified an anti-HCV-negative contami nated donation. The HCV genotype of both the contaminated pool and the dona tion was 5a, a genotype rare in Europe. The viral load of the presero-conve rted donation was 2.9 x 10(7) gEq/ml according to the bDNA method. Conclusi on: in the case of plasma derivatives, various important steps are already included to increase safety. Nucleic acid testing of manufacturing plasma p ools ensures that viral load in the starting material is as low as possible . Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.