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ONCOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND TRANSPLANTOLOGY
Review Article
Dec 10, 2025 37 35

Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review

Oluchi Okechukwu 1,
Chidinma Gab-Obinna 2,
Adepeju Kafayat Olowookere 3,
Christopher Bijabdo Jato 4,
Richard Afriyie Osei 5,
Dorcas Okayo Okayo 6,
Tobi David Farinde 7,
Lawrence John Ajutor 8 *
1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA2 Biomedical Science Department, Kingston University, London, England, UK3 Department of Nanoscience, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA4 Department of Physician Assistantship, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Presbyterian University, Ghana5 Department of Nanoscience, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.6 Department of Biomedical Technology, School of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria7 Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria8 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State* Corresponding Author
Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), 2025, onmt010, https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
Publication date: Dec 10, 2025
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Pathogen-reduction technologies (PRTs) methods for platelet and plasma are increasingly being relied on to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogens to ensure safety in transfusion. However, there is continuing debate about the impact of such technology on clinical effectiveness, bleeding outcomes, and transfusion-related adverse events.
Objective: This systematic review evaluated the clinical effectiveness and safety of PRT-treated platelets and plasma using studies published between 2015 and 2025.
Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, major databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies included human studies, platelet and/or plasma products that have been treated with specific PRT technology.  A total of 1256 records were identified. Findings were synthesized narratively and presented descriptively.
Results: Fifteen qualifying studies utilizing pathogen-reduced platelets and plasma from various areas were included.  In randomized trials, platelets treated with PRT consistently exhibited decreased CCI at both 1 hour and 24 hours compared to conventional platelets, with certain studies indicating greater platelet use.  Even though the platelet increments were lower, most trials did not report any significant rise in WHO grade ≥2 clinical bleeding, and the hemostatic efficacy was still satisfactory.  Safety outcomes were relatively good: datasets showed that transfusion-reaction rates were low (<1%) and major adverse events were not so common.  PRT systems showed strong pathogen-inactivation abilities, including the ability to effectively inactivate clinically important viruses such as hepatitis viruses, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis virus.  Different technologies had different results, and UVC-based systems sometimes showed smaller increases after transfusions.
Conclusion: Platelets and plasma treated with PRT are still clinically useful and very safe. They also greatly lower the risk of infections that can be spread by transfusions.  Even though there are fewer laboratory increments and more platelet use, these changes don't seem to affect clinical hemostasis. Strengthening implementation methods, inventory planning, and hemovigilance systems alongside continuing evaluation of performance will enable safer transfusion procedures and safeguard vulnerable patient groups globally.

KEYWORDS

Pathogen-Reduction Technologies (PRT) Platelets Plasma Transfusion Safety Clinical Effectiveness Pathogen Inactivation

CITATION (Vancouver)

Okechukwu O, Gab-Obinna C, Olowookere AK, Jato CB, Osei RA, Okayo DO, et al. Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology. 2025;1(2):onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
APA
Okechukwu, O., Gab-Obinna, C., Olowookere, A. K., Jato, C. B., Osei, R. A., Okayo, D. O., Farinde, T. D., & Ajutor, L. J. (2025). Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
Harvard
Okechukwu, O., Gab-Obinna, C., Olowookere, A. K., Jato, C. B., Osei, R. A., Okayo, D. O., . . . Ajutor, L. J. (2025). Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
AMA
Okechukwu O, Gab-Obinna C, Olowookere AK, et al. Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology. 2025;1(2), onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
Chicago
Okechukwu, Oluchi, Chidinma Gab-Obinna, Adepeju Kafayat Olowookere, Christopher Bijabdo Jato, Richard Afriyie Osei, Dorcas Okayo Okayo, Tobi David Farinde, and Lawrence John Ajutor. "Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review". Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology 2025 1 no. 2 (2025): onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526
MLA
Okechukwu, Oluchi et al. "Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Pathogen-Reduction Technologies for Platelets and Plasma: A Systematic Review". Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, vol. 1, no. 2, 2025, onmt010. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17526

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