Initial results of Imugens new investigational blood tests to screen blood donors for babesiosis were presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), held in Boston in October. Data from the Imugen studies were summarized at several podium presentations. Susan Stramer, PhD, current president of the AABB and the executive scientific officer of the American Red Cross, Erin Moritz, MS, PhD, of the American Red Cross, and Philip Molloy, MD, medical director of Imugen, presented some study findings. At the time of the 2012 AABB meeting, approximately 20,000 blood donors had been tested for Babesia microti parasites by nucleic acid tests and also by a new serologic test method.
Babesia organisms, which infect red blood cells, are typically transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected deer tick. The clinical presentation of babesiosis is variable. Individuals may be asymptomatic; and as blood donors, could unknowingly transmit the organism to patients by blood transfusions. Babesiosis is currently the most common infectious disease transmitted by blood in the United States.
Imugen and the American Red Cross are conducting studies on the incidence and prevalence of Babesia in blood donations and follow up studies on patients who have received blood transfusions with potentially infectious units. The efficacy of these newly developed tests is also being evaluated. The laboratory studies have focused on blood donors who reside in areas highly endemic for babesiosis (northeastern region of the U.S.), as well as blood donors from moderately endemic and traditionally non-endemic areas within the United States. Additional institutions participating in the research include the Memorial Blood Centers of Minnesota and the Rhode Island Blood Center; with data presented by Jed Gorlin, MD and Carolyn Young, MD, respectively.
As a result of this testing, 69 blood units that were potentially infectious for Babesia were removed from the blood supply.
These findings suggest that a testing protocol for identifying Babesia infected blood donors is feasible, and has the potential to remove infectious units from the blood supply and reduce the likelihood of transfusion transmitted babesiosis.
Data from these studies, which are expected to conclude in early 2013, will be utilized for an application for test licensure by the FDA.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.