Answer to Question #161542 in Molecular Biology for Shanaya

Question

Evaluate the effectiveness of screening the blood products for one transmissible disease by considering the safety of the products used in blood transfusions and the screening procedures used.

 

• consider the safety of the products used in blood transfusions by discussing, in general terms, the screening procedures used.

• evaluate the effectiveness of the screening process in relation to one named transmissible disease.

Answer 1

• Blood donors are asked a set of standard questions prior to donating blood to assist in determining if they are in good health and free of any diseases that could be transmitted by blood transfusion. The donated blood is tested for blood type (ABO group) and Rh type (positive or negative). This is to make sure that patients receive blood that matches their blood type. Before transfusion, the donor and blood unit are also tested for certain proteins (antibodies) that may cause adverse reactions in a person receiving a blood transfusion.
• All blood for transfusion is tested for evidence of certain infectious disease pathogens, such as hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). I will describe mostly Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) transmissive disease.
• The T. cruzi antibody detection is provided by CHAGAS-ELISA (EBRAM Produtos Laboratoriais Ltda), CHAGATEK ELISA (Laboratorio Lemos – Polychaco, PremierTM Chagas’ IgGEIA (Meridian Diagnostics Inc.), TEST ELISA PARA CHAGAS Ensayo de Segunda generación (BIOSChile Ingenería Genética S.A.), BIOELISACRUZI (biolab-Mérieux S.A.), HEMAGEN® (Hemagen Diagnósticos Ltda) - there is only small part of different imunoanalysis which are based on binding and identifying antigenes
• Besides it blood can be examined by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites.