Potential impact of AUSFTA on Australia’s blood supply

Farrugia, Albert

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01091.x

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To the Editor: In reference to the letter by Kennedy et al, reporting two patients who tested positive to human T-lymphotropic virus I/II (HTLV-I/HTLV-II) antibodies after administration of the intravenous immunoglobulin, Octagam (Octapharma Australia, Sydney, NSW),1 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) would submit that:

Office of Devices, Blood and Tissues, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Canberra, ACT.

Correspondence: albert.farrugia@health.gov.au

1. Kennedy GA, Cummings J, Durrant ST. Potential impact of AUSFTA on Australia's blood supply [letter]. Med J Aust 2007; 186: 427. <MJA full text>
2. Kariya N, Hayashi K, Hoshino H, et al. Protection of rabbits against HTLV-II infection with a synthetic peptide corresponding to HTLV-II neutralization region. Arch Virol 1996; 141: 471-480.
3. Northern Territory Government. Centre for Disease Control. HTLV-I. www.nt.gov.au/health//cdc/fact_sheets/HTLV1.rtf (accessed May 2007).
4. Seed CR, Kiely P, Keller AJ. Residual risk of transfusion transmitted human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human T lymphotrophic virus. Intern Med J 2005; 35: 592-598.
5. Schosser R, Keller-Stanislawski B, Nübling CM, Löwer J. Causality assessment of suspected virus transmission by human plasma products. Transfusion 2001; 41: 1020-1029.

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