Korean J Lab Med.  2004 Aug;24(4):250-254.

Transfusion-transmitted Virus and TTV-like Mini Virus Infection in Blood Products

• Chung JY
• Han TH
• Seong HK
• Paik IK
• Kim MJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) and TTV-like mini virus (TLMV) are small DNA virus with single-stranded, closed circular, antisense genome infecting man. TTV and TLMV are trans-missible by transfusion. However there had been a few study about TTV prevalence and no study about prevalence in blood donors in Korea. There has been no study about the TTV and TLMV infection in blood products in Korea. The aim of this study was to gain the prevalence of two viruses in blood products. METHODS: A total of 150 plasma samples from blood products (each 50 units of Red blood cell, whole blood, and platelet concentrate) were tested. The samples are obtained from the segments of the blood products. TTV DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two sets of primers (A set and B set) and TLMV DNA was detected using nested PCR with primer set C. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 85.3% (128/150) of blood products. TLMV DNA was detected in 41.3% (62/150) of blood products. Either TTV or TLMV was detected in a total of 140 blood products (92.3%) and both TTV and TLMV were detected in 50 products (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The blood products are frequently infected with TTV and (or) TLMV in Korea and they can be transmissible by blood products with high probability.

Keyword

TT virus (TTV); TTV-like mini virus (TLMV); Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); blood product

MeSH Terms

Blood Donors
Blood Platelets
DNA
DNA Viruses
Erythrocytes
Genome
Humans
Korea
Plasma
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence
Torque teno virus*
DNA