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Transfusion‐associated transmission of human T‐lymphotropic virus types I and II: experience of a regional blood center

During a 22‐month period, 78,000 blood donors were screened for human T‐ lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV‐I/II) at Belle Bonfils Memorial Blood Center (Denver, Colorado). Positive donors and the living recipients of their previously donated blood components were evaluated for risk factors and symptoms related to HTLV‐I infection, were screened by enzyme immunoassay, confirmed by Western blot for HTLV‐ I/II, and subsequently tested by polymerase chain reaction and peptide enzyme immunoassay to distinguish between HTLV‐I and ‐II infection. Six seropositive blood donors (0.008%) were identified; four were typed as having HTLV‐I infection and two as having HTLV‐II. Of 18 living recipients of components from seropositive donors, none had risk factors for HTLV‐I infection prior to transfusion and none had signs or symptoms of HTLV‐I infection at follow‐up. The mean time from transfusion to testing was 6.4 years. Seven recipients of HTLV‐I‐ infected components were HTLV seropositive; all were typed as having HTLV‐I. A possible case of posttransfusion HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy was identified in one patient who died before complete evaluation. One possible case of transfusion‐associated HTLV‐II was identified. These data further support the continued screening of blood donors for HTLV‐ I/II.