Transmission of the virus through blood transfusion
Transfusions may be a means of transmission of viruses that cause serious diseases, so that while hospitals and clinics perform strict controls on blood donors, science seeks to provide increasingly effective methods to detect pathogens.
Researchers at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario (IBR) CONICET working to prevent the spread of two of the most feared virus, hepatitis C and HIV.
Are designing a new diagnostic system for blood banks to detect these viruses even when the immune system of the infected person has not yet developed antibodies to counteract them.
The time lag between infection and the appearance of antibodies called serological window period and varies depending on the sensitivity of the equipment used to detect them. In the case of Hepatitis C can take up to 69 days to 22 days for HIV.
“It follows that the hepatitis C virus is the highest risk of infection by transfusion as well as presenting the greatest serological window period, no clinical symptoms usually during the first days of infection,” said Dr. Adriana Geri , director of the research group.
Geri explained diagnostic systems typically used antibodies to identify viruses in the blood to determine if a patient is infected. Instead, the method of molecular analysis research group is developing detects viral genetic material.
“This shows whether a person is infected, even during the serological window period, or when there is still no antibodies to avoid false negative results that are,” said the researcher.
It is during this period that the virus’s genetic material is found in greater concentration in the blood and has not yet been offset by the antibodies.
Molecular analysis makes transfusions safer and more people are potential donors.
When someone responds to donate blood on a detailed questionnaire that shows if you have risk behavior or whether there situations in recent times in which the donor may have been exposed to a virus.
Based on the information provided, decide whether the person is eligible to donate and do tests to check that your blood is safe. The new diagnostic system would increase transfusion safety and to detect the virus earlier and thus shorten the serological window period.
The research group is conducting a pilot test of the test for hepatitis C in the Provincial Hospital Centennial Rosario.
“Our idea is to make a prototype test that can be transferred en masse to the effectors of health,” said Dr Geri. This research project is funded by the Federal Council for Science and Technology and the National Agency for Promotion of Science and Technology.
Another advantage of the molecular test is that it offers the possibility of releasing what the strains of hepatitis C and HIV in the region, which allows detection and appropriate treatment.
“Many of the molecular diagnostic systems using kits made in the U.S. and Europe and can not contemplate the strains circulating in our country leading to inaccuracies in the diagnosis of these infections,” said Dr. Geri.