Virus inactivated single-donor fresh plasma preparations.

Photodynamic virus inactivation of single units of human fresh plasma in their plastic containers can be achieved by illuminating the plasma with visible light in the presence of low concentrations of one of the phenothiazine dyes methylene blue or toluidine blue. This procedure abrogates the infectivity of numerous lipid-enveloped viruses including that of human immune deficiency virus-1. In contrast, the functional activities and immunological properties of plasma proteins are only moderately influenced. Animal studies and the first clinical data suggest that photodynamically virus inactivated fresh plasma is as well tolerated as conventional fresh frozen plasma.