A model proposed to prevention of Creutzfeldt-Jakob transmission by blood products in Iran

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal brain disease caused by prions. Epidemiological evidence suggests the risk of transmission of CJD by blood products. The aim of this study was to identify common preventive strategies in blood services to avoid epidemic CJD between blood product recipients.

Published strategies on the official websites of blood collection centers of various countries with special attention to the prevention of CJD transmission during blood donor selection were reviewed.

In developed countries, donors with a positive history of CJD or vCJD for themselves or their first-degree relatives, individuals who have received a human-derived therapeutic products (including blood products) since 1980 in endemic countries for vCJD, or those with a history of residence in endemic parts of the world, for distinct cumulative exposure periods are excluded.

Iran has one of the healthiest blood donors in the world, and Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization policies are focused on supplying blood products from Iranian plasma donates, appropriate screening for CJD is recommended at every visit.