TY - JOUR TI - Post-donation information and haemovigilance reporting for COVID-19 in Greece: Information supporting the absence of SARS-CoV-2 possible transmission through blood components AU - Politis, C. AU - Papadaki, M. AU - Politi, L. AU - Kourti, G. AU - Richardson, C. AU - Asariotou, M. AU - Tsakris, A. AU - Mentis, A. JO - Transfusion Clinique et Biologique PY - 2021 VL - 28 TODO - 1 SP - 55-59 PB - Elsevier Masson s.r.l. SN - 1246-7820 TODO - 10.1016/j.tracli.2020.10.007 TODO - colistimethate; cytarabine; fludarabine; granulocyte colony stimulating factor; idarubicin; piperacillin plus tazobactam; vancomycin; antineoplastic agent, acute myeloid leukemia; adult; allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Article; asymptomatic disease; bacterial infection; blood donor; blood safety; case report; clinical article; clinical protocol; coronavirus disease 2019; female; follow up; Greece; health care facility; high risk population; human; human cell; immune deficiency; immunoassay; male; middle aged; minimal residual disease; molecular diagnosis; monitoring; multiple cycle treatment; nasopharyngeal swab; nonhuman; outpatient; prevalence; public health; quarantine; real time polymerase chain reaction; screening; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; thrombocyte transfusion; thrombocytopenia; virus transmission; acute myeloid leukemia; adverse event; asymptomatic infection; blood; blood component therapy; contact examination; donor selection; epidemiology; Greece; immunocompromised patient; isolation and purification; pandemic; police; prevention and control; thrombocyte rich plasma; viremia, Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asymptomatic Infections; Blood Component Transfusion; Blood Donors; Blood Safety; Contact Tracing; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Donor Selection; Female; Greece; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Police; SARS-CoV-2; Viremia TODO - Background: Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmitted mainly through the respiratory tract, possible transmission by transfusion from asymptomatic carriers should be explored. As yet there are no reports of transfusion transmission of COVID-19. Haemovigilance findings within a three-month surveillance period during the new coronavirus pandemic are presented. Materials and methods: Due to great demand and shortage, blood sessions in outpatient facilities were organized during the high prevalence period of COVID-19, alongside a national plan to monitor the evolving public health situation by random molecular screening of high-risk groups of the population. Haemovigilance protocols were implemented as well as surveillance for any COVID-19 case reported post-transfusion. A 14-day quarantine and follow-up molecular and antibody testing of any COVID-19 positive case was obligatory. Results: Post-donation, post-transfusion information and molecular testing of swab samples collected from three asymptomatic donors at risk for COVID-19, revealed the case of an immunosupressed patient who had been transfused with whole blood derived platelets from a donor subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. The recipient exhibited no symptoms of the disease. Molecular and antibody testing results were negative. Conclusion: Haemovigilance provided information supporting the absence of transfusion transmission of COVID-19, thus strengthening the hypothesis that, even if it cannot yet be definitively ruled out, COVID-19 is not transmitted through blood transfusion. As of early June 2020, a perfect test does not exist, therefore haemovigilance along with the implementation of strict proactive measures is crucial to identify eluding asymptomatic individuals and ensure blood safety during the pandemic. © 2020 Société française de transfusion sanguine (SFTS) ER -