Pathogen inactivation: coming of age.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW In the past 20 years, several pathogen inactivation technologies have been developed to be applied to blood components. This review is intended to summarize the data currently available about the technologies and the clinical use of products inactivated by those techniques. RECENT FINDINGS Technologies for inactivating pathogens in plasma and platelets are available, and are increasingly used in many countries. Cumulative experience over the last decade in routine use supports the concept of the safety and efficacy of the blood components treated with pathogen inactivation technologies. SUMMARY In recent years, an increase in the use of pathogen inactivation technologies for plasma and platelets has been observed. Their routine use in addition to experience generated in controlled clinical trials confirms that the treated blood components meet the required efficacy and safety criteria. Differences in epidemiology between countries, infectious risk perception, concerns about potential adverse effects associated with its use, and economic considerations of national blood systems might explain the differences observed in its implementation.