A health technology assessment of prion filtration of red cell concentrates to reduce the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission in Ireland

Harrington P, Madden D, O'Neill M, Moran P, Murphy L, Teljeur C, Ryan M
Record ID 32012000010
English
Authors' recommendations: This HTA reviewed the evidence regarding prion filtration of red cell concentrates (RCCs). There is substantial uncertainty around on a number of key factors that impact on the prevalence and risk of transmission of vCJD. The current available evidence suggests that prion filters are safe and will remove almost all the residual risk of vCJD transmission. It is predicted that prion filtration of all RCCs will initially cost €11 million per annum and, over a 10-year time period, will prevent two deaths from vCJD and result in 19.4 discounted life years gained. The introduction of prion filtration, either for all transfusion recipients or for limited patient sub-groups was found to be not cost-effective. The ICER compared to the existing policy of no prion filtration is €2.6million per life year gained. Given the likely number of clinical cases (2 deaths, range 0-8), and in the context of a finite healthcare budget, consideration must be given to the existing technologies and services that may need to be displaced should a decision be made to introduce prion filtration.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2011
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Ireland
MeSH Terms
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Prions
Contact
Organisation Name: Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
Contact Address: Health Information and Quality Authority, George's Court, George's Lane,Smithfield, Dublin 7. PH : + 353 (01) 814 7464
Contact Name: info@hiqa.ie
Contact Email: info@hiqa.ie
Copyright: Health Information and Quality Authority
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