Baxter initiated the verification study to address the rising public concern over the spread of the H5N1 virus outside of Asia, the recent demonstration that the H5N1 virus may occur in blood more widely than other strains of influenza, and the perceived threat of influenza virus transmission through the use of plasma derivatives.
H5N1 influenza is a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses and is similar in structure to previously identified influenza viruses. As this family of viruses is lipid-enveloped, it was expected that they would be readily inactivated through proven inactivation processes such as pasteurization, vapor heating, low pH and solvent detergent treatment methods.
This study confirmed that the virus was readily inactivated through one or more of the following methods: pasteurization, vapor heating, low pH and solvent detergent – all treatment methods Baxter employs in the processing of its commercially available plasma derivatives.