How safe are plasma-derived clotting factor products?
Several measures are taken to ensure the safety of all blood products, including plasma-derived clotting factor products. Blood donors are carefully screened to eliminate anyone who has been exposed to viral infections such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); the blood used to make the clotting factor concentrates is tested for known bacterial or viral contaminants; and, finally, as part of the manufacturing process, these products undergo rigorous chemical and heat treatment steps designed to inactivate viruses, rendering them harmless. Although these measures have improved the safety of plasma-derived clotting factor products, there still remains a theoretical risk of blood-borne substances. What is a recombinant clotting factor product? Recombinant clotting factor products are produced using recombinant DNA technology. The clotting factor is produced without using any human blood or cells. Recombinant clotting factors have been proven to effectively control bleeding
