Eradication of Transfusion-Induced Malaria by In vitro Processing

OBJECTIVE: To determine the lethal dose of chloroquine to be added to donors blood in vitro for eradication of transfusion-induced malaria and to study the unfavorable effects of this dose on the constituents of the stored blood. METHODS: A total of 4484 blood donors, recruited for this study, were screened for malaria parasites microscopically using Giemsa staining technique. Only 30 blood samples (200ml of blood each) satisfied the inclusion criteria of the study. Each of these blood samples was subdivided equally into four sub-samples to obtain 120 sub-samples. Three different concentrations of chloroquine were added to 90 specimens (30 samples represent each dose) while 30 specimens (control) were left without the drug. Blood specimens were then tested by parasitic, hematological and biochemical techniques on the day of collection and after 24 and 48 hours storage in blood bank refrigerator. RESULTS: The numbers of malaria parasites killed were proportional to chloroquine doses added to donors blood. No parasites were killed among the control donors blood samples. The determined lethal dose of chloroquine was safe to all constituents of the stored blood. CONCLUSION: For eradication of transfusion induced malaria by in vitro processing of donors blood, chloroquine is effective and safe drug. We recommend application of the optimal dose of chloroquine (626.1g/L) to the components of the blood bags prior to phlebotomy. Keywords: chloroquine, malignant tertian malaria, prothrombin Sudan Journal of Medical Science Vol. 3 (4) 2008: pp. 291-30