METHODS OF INACTIVATING PATHOGENS USING BROAD-SPECTRUM PULSED LIGHT

Methods for reducing the pathogen content of a biologically derived composition by illuminating the composition with at least one high-intensity, short duration pulse of incoherent polychromatic light in a broad spectrum. In the resultant treated compositions, biomolecules of interest remain biologically active. The content of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, pyrogens, fungi and/or prions, present in a biologically derived composition, such as blood serum, blood plasma or other blood product, including, insulin, transferrin, heparin, collagen, Factor VIII and/or Factor IX, or a composition containing monoclonal antibodies, proteins from genetically engineered cell lines or the like, is reduced by illumination with broad-spectrum pulsed light. The content of HIV-1, SV40, canine parvovirus or bovine viral diarrhea virus in a biologically derived composition is dramatically reduced with a single pulse of broad-spectrum light. Metodos para reducir el contenido de patogenos de una composicion derivada biologicamente iluminando la composicion con al menos un pulso de alta intensidad, corta duracion de luz policromatica incoherente en un espectro amplio. En las composiciones tratadas resultantes, las bio-moleculas de interes permanecen biologicamente activas. El contenido de patogenos, tales como virus, bacterias, pirogenos, hongos y/o priones, presentes en una composicion derivada biologicamente, tal como suero de sangre, plasma de sangre u otro producto de sangre, incluyendo insulina, transferina, heparina, colageno, factor VIII y/o factor IX, o una composicion que contiene anti-cuerpos monoclonales, proteinas de lineas celulares de ingenieria genetica o similares, se reduce por iluminacion con luz pulsada de espectro amplio. El contenido de HIV-1, SV40, parvo-virus canino o virus de diarrea viral bobina en una composicion derivada biologicamente, es reducido dramaticamente con un solo pulso de luz de espectro amplio.