Mirasol reduces the virus causing COVID-19 below the limit of detection in plasma and platelets
• A study published in peer-reviewed Vox Sanguinis shows Terumo BCT's Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology (PRT) System effectively reduced the titer of SARS-CoV-2 in both plasma and platelet products to undetectable levels. • Mirasol is designed to add an extra layer of safety to the blood supply. • In some parts of the world, where Mirasol is approved for use, the device is used to treat convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients.
The results showed that Mirasol is effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, when high virus levels are present in human plasma and platelets.
Study Results
In the Terumo BCT study, the measured titer of SARS-CoV-2 was below the limit of detection in tissue culture following treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet light on the Mirasol system. The mean log reductions in the viral titers were ≥ 3.40 and ≥ 4.53 for the plasma units and platelet units, respectively.
Mirasol effectively reduced the titer of SARS-CoV-2 in both plasma and platelets to undetectable levels. The data suggest that the process would be effective in reducing the theoretical risk of transfusion-transmitted SARS-CoV-2.
Changing World = Emerging Pathogens
Pathogen reduction with Mirasol is a method to address emerging and evolving pathogens as the rate of epidemics increases, people travel more and the global climate warms.
“Mirasol adds a layer of safety to blood products by reducing the risk of transfusion transmission of both known and emerging pathogens,” says Shawn D. Keil, Terumo BCT, and lead author of the publication. “SARS-CoV-2 won’t be the last novel virus to emerge. Using the Mirasol PRT system is a proactive approach to protecting the foundation of healthcare, blood.”
Dr. Louis Katz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, said: “Once more, in the aftermath of HIV and HCV [the hepatitis C virus], we are reminded that a proactive intervention like pathogen reduction could be of value in urgent and emergent circumstances like the current pandemic.”
Pathogen Reduction and Convalescent Plasma
People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies to the disease in their blood. Some healthcare providers are using convalescent plasma for patients with severe COVID-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus. Others are considering using convalescent plasma to provide passive immunity to healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses who have been exposed to the virus but are not showing symptoms. Mirasol may add an extra layer of safety to convalescent plasma, even though there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted through transfusion.
“The proactive value of pathogen reduction providing blood safety in the event of unknown pathogen outbreaks is shown in this awful COVID-19 pandemic. The riboflavin technology inactivates the SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, so it should be especially helpful in the treatment of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and to provide additional safety for standard blood products,” Dr. Jeffrey McCullough, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota Medical School.
