How safe are gamma globulin shots?
Although gamma globulin (immune globulin) is made from pooled plasma of many donors, infectious risks are virtually eliminated by use of manufacturing methods that destroy any viruses that may have escaped the initial screening of individual donations. The Red Cross preparation uses plasma derived only from volunteer donors. There have been no reported cases of HIV infection from intramuscular gamma globulin. A few cases of hepatitis C have been reported recently from a special intravenous preparation of gamma globulin (not the intramuscular type given to travelers). With newer viral inactivation (sterilization) techniques now in place there have been no further reports of infection to date (April, 1999).
