NEW YORK -- On July 1, 2003, New York Blood Center will begin testing all donated blood for West Nile Virus (WNV) using state-of-the-art Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT). The testing will take place at the blood center's newly outfitted lab in New Brunswick, N.J.
"Last summer our nation saw the largest epidemic of WNV ever recorded with over 4,000 cases between May and December. Physicians also discovered that some 60 WNV cases were transmitted via blood transfusion. But the good news is that much has been done to prepare for another WNV outbreak, including the development and implementation of this new detection test in record time," explained Dr. Robert Jones, president and CEO of the New York Blood Center.
"No one has a crystal ball or can predict if this year will see another WNV outbreak. But this new test, which directly detects WNV genetic material and is similar to testing methodology for HIV and hepatitis C, will bring a new level of safety to the blood supply," added Jones.
The threat of a WNV outbreak and any resulting increase in blood donor deferrals, however, falls hard on the heels of the SARS outbreak, which has deferred donors who have traveled to Toronto, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China or have been exposed to people with SARS. Also, these deferrals are just one year after last summer's ban on donors who have spent considerable time in Europe due to fears about transmitting mad cow disease.
"We are very concerned about the overall availability of blood this summer. We already had to issue an appeal for donors earlier this month due to a low inventory of Rh negative blood. We simply must attract new and lapsed donors to offset those who will legitimately be deferred from donating so we have a safe and adequate blood supply," emphasized Jones. "And donations we receive in the next few weeks will provide a true safety net or insurance policy for hospital patients in need of life-saving transfusions this summer."
Patients in close to 200 New York and New Jersey hospitals rely on New York Blood Center to deliver over 2,000 donations daily to meet their transfusion requirements. Volunteer donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health. Donors receive a free mini medical exam including having their pulse, temperature, iron count and blood pressure checked. For a donation appointment in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and northern and central New Jersey, call New York Blood Center at (800) 933-BLOOD or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.
New York Blood Center is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. With the support of five regional operations, New York Blood Center has been providing blood transfusion products and services to patients in New York and New Jersey hospitals since 1964. New York Blood Center is also home to the world-renown Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program, the nation's largest umbilical cord blood bank.
Source: New York Blood Center
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.