METHODS OF PROTECTION AGAINST HOMOLOGOUS SERUM HEPATITIS

Abstract

Much attention has been focused on the transmission of the causative agent of homologous serum hepatitis by the parenteral administration of blood and blood products. A number of conclusive experimental studies have shown that plasma and serum may harbor the responsible viral agent.¹During the recent war, in many battle casualties who had received transfusions of whole blood or plasma, or both, subsequently, within periods of two to five months, homologous serum hepatitis developed.²Since the end of the war and the release of large stores of dried pooled plasma for civilian use in this country, a significantly high incidence of serum hepatitis has been reported resulting from transfusions with this and other plasma.³Reports from England by Spurling, Shone and Vaughan⁴also indicate an incidence of 7.3 per cent homologous serum jaundice among 1,054 patients receiving pooled serum and plasma. Inasmuch as laboratory methods for