Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
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Although the nation's blood supply is safer than ever, a small risk of transfusion-transmitted infection remains. Present strategies to further reduce the risk, such as the donor medical evaluation or laboratory testing, will not likely eliminate this risk. A different approach involves treating donated blood to eliminate its infectivity. ⋯ Toxicity, mutagenicity, and safety margins seem to be adequate, and damage to blood proteins or cellular elements is minimal. Clinical trials of pathogen-inactivated platelets have been completed in Europe and in the United States, and phase III clinical trials of pathogen-inactivated red blood cells are underway in the United States. If these encouraging results are sustained, the risk of transfusion-transmitted disease may be nearly eliminated.