Japanese Red Cross Society to introduce new test to prevent bacterial infections caused by blood products. Of the 16 cases reported in the six years up to last year, 10 were reported at the time.
Three people died, including a girl under the age of 3. Platelet preparations must be stored at room temperature, so bacteria are said to grow more easily in them than in preparations such as red blood cells. There are reports that the number of infections has decreased significantly in the UK, which introduced the test first.