WHO Guidelines on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies in relation to Biological and Pharmaceutical Products

Overview

In order to update the preventive measures proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 to minimize the risks associated with the use of vaccines, blood products and other pharmaceutical products containing bovine-derived and human-derived materials, a meeting of international experts was convened at WHO in Geneva on 3-5 February 2003. The purpose was to review the latest available data on the epidemiology, antemortem and postmortem diagnosis, detection of the infectious agents, and distribution of infectivity in tissues or body fluids of relevant species with TSEs.