The West Nile Virus (WNV) Biovigilance Network collects and reports data on donors (of blood, tissue and hematopoietic progenitor cells) with suspected WNV infection in the United States and Canada. Data are collected from donor screening test results performed by nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT). The data are reported to AABB by facilities responsible for collecting and/or testing virtually all blood donations in the United States and Canada. AABB members subscribed to the email alert list receive notification of all reported WNV activity to help trigger a transition from minipool NAT (MP-NAT) to individual donor NAT (ID-NAT). If you would like individuals at your facility to gain access to the reporting form and email notifications, please contact hemovigilance@aabb.org.
As described in the 2009 FDA guidance, Use of Nucleic Acid Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of West Nile Virus from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion, collection facilities should:
Blood establishments should switch (trigger) from MP-NAT to ID-NAT screening once the facility defined threshold for WNV activity has been met or exceeded within their geographic collection region. Facilities with overlapping or adjacent collection regions are encouraged to develop a communication plan to share relevant data. This shared information may be used to assess WNV activity and determine whether the threshold for implementing ID-NAT screening has been reached in the defined area.
This electronic data network, initiated in 2006, was developed by the WNV Task Force. The task force included representatives from AABB, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Defense, American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, Canadian Blood Services and United Blood Services. The WNV Task Force accepted this charge as part of AABB’s mission to improve patient safety with respect to transfusion medicine and, in particular, to fulfill its stated goal of taking a leadership role in creating a biovigilance system in the United States.
The network is intended to support and enhance an identification and tracking initiative that AABB had developed in partnership with FDA and CDC when WNV first became a public health concern. This resource is not intended to supplant or replace public health agency data collection, or to predict the occurrence, frequency or location of WNV, but rather to support public health agencies, blood collection facilities and transfusion services.
The information shared by the network is provided by third parties and is not verified by AABB. Accordingly, AABB makes no guarantee or promise that the data are current, valid, or accurate. No content on this site nor the content shared in the email alerts is intended to constitute professional advice, whether medical, legal or otherwise. AABB expressly disclaims any liability or loss that may arise either directly or indirectly from relying on the information, services or other material on this site.
Reporting facilities that are HIPAA-compliant should report only patient data that has been de-identified in accordance with HIPAA de-identification standards, according to which only states of residence, not zip codes, may be reported. AABB is not responsible for reporting facilities’ compliance with federal, state or local laws or regulations.
For support or for more information, contact hemovigilance@aabb.org.
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