Effect of Storage at Room Temperature on Infectivity of Icterogenic Plasma

Recent reports by Allen and his co-workers1have indicated a lowered incidence of homologous serum hepatitis resulting from the infusion of plasma stored at room temperature. Following the earliest of these reports,1ait was decided to investigate this means of inactivating the agent or agents of homologous serum hepatitis by inoculation studies in volunteers, using plasma that was known to be icterogenic. This was a part of a larger study dealing with the safety of blood and blood products with reference to homologous serum hepatitis.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS The icterogenic plasma used in these studies was part of a single large pool prepared for the purpose of investigating methods of sterilizing blood and blood derivatives with respect to the agent of serum hepatitis. The preparation of the plasma pool and the general conduct of the volunteer studies have been described elsewhere.2It should be noted, however, that