SEATTLE — Bloodworks Northwest today said it will fully comply with the FDA requirements for Zika virus testing on every collected unit of donated blood, while, it said, the American Red Cross “declines” to do the same.
“We know the Zika virus can travel from a pregnant woman to an unborn child with profound consequences, and can be transmitted through blood and sexual contact, giving rise to serious public concern,” Dr. James P. AuBuchon, president and CEO, said in a release. “As directed by the FDA, we will implement the most sensitive, individual-sample testing available to ensure patient safety and public confidence in the blood supply.”
The Food and Drug Administration issued guidance to all U.S. blood organizations on Aug. 23 mandating Zika virus testing on donations collected.
From the Bloodworks Northwest release:
"Despite the FDA's mandate to use the highly accurate individual testing protocol for Zika, the American Red Cross will use a less sensitive "mini-pool" test in lower risk areas such as the Pacific Northwest. This testing method can fail to detect up to 25% of Zika-infected blood, placing patients and the public at risk. The Red Cross was also two weeks late meeting the October 3rd deadline for Zika testing in high risk areas."
A Red Cross statement on Zika virus screening from Aug. 29 said the organization is “working to implement the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidance released ... recommending universal testing of donated blood and blood products in the U.S.”
[ Read thier entire statement from August here. ]
The Red Cross released the following statement Monday afternoon regarding Zika safety. This statement is from Dr. Susan Stramer, vice president of scientific affairs at the American Red Cross.