The following is a summary of a statement released by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA). To read the PPTA statement in full, click HERE.
On September 8, 2016, PPTA issued an updated news release regarding the Zika virus (ZIKV) and plasma protein therapies. In the release, PPTA notes that:
- ZIKV is in a family of (lipid-enveloped) viruses that is highly susceptible to existing virus inactivation and removal processes
- Donor screening procedures “make it highly unlikely that any person showing disease symptoms typical of ZIKV would be accepted for plasma donation.”
PPTA is aware that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended deferring potential donors and/or halting blood collections in ZIKV risk areas; however, “according to recommendations from health authorities, measures such as halting collections, donor deferral or testing are not necessary for plasma, which is further manufactured into plasma protein therapies.” PPTA concludes that, “based on robust virus clearance capacity during manufacturing of plasma-derived products . . . PPTA does not consider that deferral of donors or donation testing is necessary for plasma used for further manufacturing into plasma-derived therapies.”
