BloodSource Initiates Testing of Donated Blood Today for West Nile Virus, Most Often Spread by Pesky Mosquitoes.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 2003

BloodSource, California's second largest non-profit, community blood center, initiated testing today for West Nile Virus (WNV). This virus -- most often spread by mosquitoes -- can be transmitted by an infected donor through blood transfusion, as well as tissue and organ transplantation.

BloodSource is one of 11 blood testing centers screening samples of donated blood from nearly 100 blood donation centers across the United States using a nucleic acid test (NAT) developed by Roche Laboratories. This patented polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology allows…