Disease Puts Plasma Supplies Into Question

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Disease Puts Plasma Supplies Into Question

Salt Lake Tribune Online (12/16/98)
Wagner, Norma

Federal agencies are currently investigating whether Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) can be passed through blood, following the recent death of a Utah man--who was also a frequent plasma donor--from the disease. The national company that received blood from the man, which could now be pooled into thousands of other units of plasma, has meanwhile agreed to quarantine its supplies dating back to January until the issue has been resolved. Epidemiologist Craig Nichols, of the Utah State Advisory Council on Science and Technology, said, "There have been no cases reported of [CJD] infection by blood transfusion or use of blood products. We do not believe blood products contain the prion protein, but it is prudent the blood be held until that is proven." Six people in the state have either been diagnosed or died from the disease this year.

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