Tissue Services

There is a high probability that vCJD can be transmitted via blood transfusion, with a number of likely cases having been described (see references below). There remains therefore a theoretical possibility that tissue grafts could also be vectors of infection. To this end Tissue Services has introduced and is evaluating a number of steps to reduce or mitigate risk. These are as follows:

Surgical Instruments

Wherever possible, disposable instruments are used in the retrieval of tissues and all subsequent processing within the tissue bank. Where this is not possible advice has been taken on the appropriate washing and sterilisation procedures to minimise risks from prions.

Donor Testing

Tissue Services is currently undertaking a feasibility study for the removal and testing of spleen tissue from deceased donors. There is evidence that vCJD prions become detectable in spleen and other lymphoid tissues before clinical onset of disease.

Tissue Services is the only tissue bank in the UK to undertake spleen testing for vCJD of donors. Use of other lymph reticular and ocular tissues as analytes for testing is under consideration.

Blood Removal from Tissues

Tissue Services has been in the vanguard of research to remove blood and marrow from bone grafts thereby reducing the risk of prion transmission.

References