The Window Period:
A Gap in Existing Defenses Against
Transfusion-Transmitted
Infections
Implementation of sensitive tests to detect pathogen-specific antibodies, antigens, and nucleic acids has greatly increased blood safety. However, the window period — the time between infection with a pathogen and the moment detection is possible by screening tests — continues to present a risk for disease transmission.
 |
Window Period is a Limitation of Current Screening. The window period is defined as the time between infection and detection. The length of the pathogen's window period depends on the pathogen's characteristics and the screening method used. |
| Estimated
risk of collecting blood during the infectious window period (US repeat donors, post NAT) [44] |
||
| Agent | Window Period (days)* | Risk (rate of infectious donations) |
| HBV - no correction** - corrected** |
59 59 |
1:488,000 1:205,000 |
| HCV - Ab test only - plus NAT |
70 70 |
1:276,000 1:1,935,000 |
| HIV - Ab plus p24 - plus NAT |
16 11 |
1:1,468,000 1:2,135,000 |
| HTLV - 1998-1999 - 2000-2001 |
51 41 |
1:514,000 1:2,993,000 |
| * The window period quoted here may vary depending
on the test employed. ** HBV correction compensates for the transient expression of HBsAg in acute infections. |
||
Benefits of the INTERCEPT Blood System
Using a pathogen inactivation method such as the INTERCEPT Blood System
can reduce or eliminate the risk from infectious window period donations.
Although testing systems may ultimately narrow the window, they are
unlikely to close it because they rely on testing only a portion of
the transfused unit. The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to inactivate
the entire blood component unit, a fundamental advantage over testing
systems.
Blood
Safety section page 4 of 5 
Use of the INTERCEPT Blood System in the United States is limited by Federal law to investigational use. If you are a resident of the U.S., please click here.
The information on this site is not country-specific, and may contain information that is outside the approved indications for the country in which you are located. The INTERCEPT Blood System is CE marked for use with platelets and plasma.
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