Abstract: A process is provided for preparing samples of blood, blood plasma, blood serum, or plasma proteins, including blood factor products, for PCR testing which minimizes contaminants which may interfere with the analysis. The process includes centrifugation of the initial sample to form a sample pellet, removing at least a portion of the supernatant from the pellet, and washing the pellet with an aqueous buffer. The buffer and washed pellet are then centrifuged, and a portion of the remaining supernatant is removed along with any contaminants contained therein. The clean, substantially contaminant-free pellet is then processed for PCR analysis.

Abstract: Systems, processes and devices are provided which are useful for testing blood or plasma donations to detect those specific donations which are contaminated by virus above a predetermined level. An apparatus and process is described which forms individual, separately sealed, and connected sample-containing pouches from a flexible hollow tubing segment connected to a fluid donation container. The tubing segment is sealed at spaced-apart intervals along its length, with tubing segment portions in the intervals between the seals defining pouches, each of which contains a portion of a plasma sample. The contents of the pouches are formed into pools which are subsequently tested for virus contamination by a high sensitivity test such as PCR. When a pool tests positive, indicating it is contaminated by a virus, a further pouch is removed from each of the tubing segments used to form the initial pool.

Abstract: Systems, processes and devices are provided which are useful for testing blood or plasma donations to detect those specific donations which are contaminated by virus above a predetermined level. An apparatus and process is described which forms individual, separately sealed, and connected sample-containing pouches from a flexible hollow tubing segment connected to a fluid donation container. The tubing segment is sealed at spaced-apart intervals along its length, with tubing segment portions in the intervals between the seals defining pouches, each of which contains a portion of a plasma sample. The contents of the pouches are formed into pools which are subsequently tested for virus contamination by a high sensitivity test such as PCR. When a pool tests positive, indicating it is contaminated by a virus, a further pouch is removed from each of the tubing segments used to form the initial pool.