Method for the inactivation of pathogens in donor blood, blood plasma or erythrocyte concentrates in flexible containers under agitation

A method for inactivating pathogens in donor blood, blood plasma and/or erythrocyte concentrates, comprising the following steps:

• preparing blood donations and/or preparations obtained from donor blood and/or by machine apheresis,
• (a) adding a suitable photoactive substance and photodynamic treatment by irradiation with light, comprising or consisting exclusively of wavelengths in the absorption range of the photoactive substance, or
• (b) irradiating the preparations with ultraviolet (UV) light at wavelengths of 200 nm to 320 nm,
• wherein the preparations consist of numerous units that can be handled individually and stored separately, and
• the preparations are in flat, flexible light-permeable (alternative (a)) and/or UV-permeable (alternative (b)) irradiation bags,
• characterized in that
• the irradiation bags are filled to less than 30 vol % of the maximum filling volume of the irradiation bags, and
• the irradiation bags are shaken during the photodynamic treatment and/or irradiation with UV light, so that the contents of the irradiation bags are circulated and zones of variable layer thickness develop due to this movement.