§ Mr. Lansley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma is available to the NHS for transfusions in respect of babies and young children born since 1 January 1996. [143749]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson:The decision taken to import fresh frozen plasma (FFP) from the United States for young babies and children born after 1 January 1996 will provide additional protection to the most vulnerable group who will not have been exposed to BSE through the food chain. The National Blood Authority (NBA) is currently involved in negotiating for supplies of FFP for this group of patients. This FFP will be virally inactivated, and its planned availability 759W will be in the New Year. In addition, the NBA also implemented viral inactivation for UK FFP for this patient group in August 2002. Viral inactivation is designed to remove certain viruses that may be transmitted by transfusion.