In March of 2016 the FDA introduced draft guidelines recommending additional precautions to prevent bacterial contamination in platelets. Since both the INTERCEPT pathogen reduction (PR) technology and the Verax platelet PGD Test (for rapid bacterial detection) are approved for use in the United States, researchers compared the cost-effectiveness of treating platelets with each of these tests. Use of the platelet PGD Test extends the shelf life of platelets from 5 to 7 days, which was included in the model. PR platelets cost $221 more per unit than platelets assessed with the PGD Test. Higher costs of PR platelets can be attributed to the higher cost of the inactivation technology, lower therapeutic effectiveness, an increased need for additional transfusions, and fewer storage days. The model, however, did not incorporate the economic benefits of inactivation of other transfusion-transmissible pathogens such as HIV, HCV, HBV, West Nile, Plasmodium species and other emerging pathogens by PR except for the Zika virus, nor did the model incorporate possible extension of the shelf-life by PR treated platelets. Transfusing facilities, which also may perform a second bacterial culture approximately 3 days after collection, should weigh all costs and benefits to decide which method of testing is best for their establishment.
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