vCJD Assay*

Chiron is developing an enhanced immunoassay to detect abnormal prions (protein particles) in blood and blood products that are associated with variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).

vCJD is a rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder in humans. There is no known treatment for vCJD and it is invariably fatal. It is believed that the people who developed vCJD became infected by eating cattle products contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad-cow disease.¹

In at least one case, blood from a donor who was later identified as having vCJD was transfused to a patient who had subsequently developed vCJD. The case suggests the possibility that vCJD may be transmitted through transfusion.¹

Enzymatic Conversion System*

Chiron and its partner ZymeQuest Inc. are developing an enzymatic conversion system to convert A, B and AB red blood cells (RBC) to enzyme-converted group O RBCs (ECO RBCs), which are being developed to be transfused to all individuals, regardless of blood type, without transfusion reaction.

A universally transfusable inventory of red blood cells may reduce the risk associated with transfusion of mismatched RBCs and reduce inventory problems at blood banks caused by shortages of group O red cells. In addition, the technology could help to reduce the amount of donor blood discarded because of outdating.