Inactivation of Ebola virus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in platelet concentrates and plasma by ultraviolet C light and methylene blue plus visible light, respectively

BACKGROUNDEbola virus (EBOV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been identified as potential threats to blood safety. This study investigated the efficacy of the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets and THERAFLEX MB-Plasma pathogen inactivation systems to inactivate EBOV and MERS-CoV in platelet concentrates (PCs) and plasma, respectively. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPCs and plasma were spiked with high titers of cell culture-derived EBOV and MERS-CoV, treated with various light doses of ultravioletC (UVC; THERAFLEX UV-Platelets) or methylene blue (MB) plus visible light (MB/light; THERAFLEX MB-Plasma), and assessed for residual viral infectivity. RESULTSUVC reduced EBOV (4.5 log) and MERS-CoV (3.7 log) infectivity in PCs to the limit of detection, and MB/light decreased EBOV (4.6 log) and MERS-CoV (3.3 log) titers in plasma to nondetectable levels. CONCLUSIONSBoth THERAFLEX UV-Platelets (UVC) and THERAFLEX MB-Plasma (MB/light) effectively reduce EBOV and MERS-CoV infectivity in platelets and plasma, respectively.