FDA expands Zika screening to all US blood centers!Top Stories

August 27, 2016 06:03
FDA expands Zika screening to all US blood centers!

In a major step to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne virus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants all US blood centers to start screening for Zika.

According to the advisory, all US states and territories will need to begin testing blood donations for Zika. Previously, the FDA had limited the requirement to Puerto Rico and two Florida counties.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's biologic products center said in an agency release, that, "There is still much uncertainty regarding the nature and extent of Zika virus transmission."

"At this time, the recommendation for testing the entire blood supply will help ensure that safe blood is available for all individuals who might need transfusion."

Blood collection sites already test donations for HIV, hepatitis, West Nile virus and other blood-borne viruses. According to the FDA officials, Zika testing is already underway in Puerto Rico and parts of Florida, where "it has shown to be beneficial in identifying donations infected with Zika virus."

There are two experimental blood-screening tests for Zika, authorized by the FDA. The first one is made by Roche and another from Hologic Inc. The officials at South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, said that, the cost of adding Zika testing to the blood screening process is less than $10.

"We must implement widespread universal screening now to prevent any further contamination of the blood supply before it occurs and to pre-empt a widespread shortfall in the blood supply," stated Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Patrick Murphy, D-Fla, and a half-dozen other House members, in a letter to the FDA earlier this month.  

Also Read: Diarrheal sickness infects over 100 people in Arizona!

Nandini

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