ABSTRACT
Intravenous immunoglogulin, like albumin, exhibits the highest safety margin of all plasma-derived products. Two papers, however, addressed the issue of pathogen safety.
Functional integrity of IVIG following irradiation with a virucidal dose of γ radiation
Tran and colleagues at Clearant and ZLB showed that γ irradiation at 50 kGy as an additional safety measure does not induce changes in conformation, polymerization or functional antigenic recognition and cytokine induction of purified immunoglobulins from the intermediate product (1). It is not clear whether the tests were performed on the intermediate or the final product, however. A real benefit of increasing the already excellent viral safety record of IVIG, even with regard to parvovirus B19, was not supported.
