Infectious Disease Screening in Cadaveric Specimens
Summary
Infectious disease screening of cadaveric specimens forms a critical component of biosafety in transplantation, autopsy practice and tissue banking. Post-mortem samples present unique challenges owing to biochemical changes after death, variable levels of pathogen degradation and potential contamination. Screening protocols typically rely on serological assays to detect host antibodies and antigens, alongside molecular techniques such as nucleic acid amplification testing to identify viral genomes. Validation of these assays for cadaveric use must account for haemolysis, post-mortem interval and altered sample matrix. Globally, rigorous screening reduces the risk of disease transmission from donor tissues to recipients and staff and informs risk assessment in forensic and mortuary settings. Recent technological advances have refined assay sensitivity and specificity, while international guidelines continue to evolve regarding optimal testing windows, assay selection and result interpretation. Integration of serology and molecular diagnostics, coupled with quality control measures tailored for post-mortem samples, is essential to maintain safety and maximise the utility of donated human material.
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Infectious Disease Screening in Cadaveric Specimens publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in infectious disease screening in cadaveric specimens across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cadaveric specimen: A biological sample obtained from a human body after death, used for diagnostic or transplantation purposes.
Serological assay: A laboratory test that detects or measures antibodies or antigens in blood or other bodily fluids.
Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT): A molecular technique that amplifies and detects specific viral genetic sequences to identify infections at an early stage.
Post-mortem interval: The time elapsed between death and sample collection, which can affect assay performance.
Window period: The interval after infection during which laboratory tests may not yet detect specific markers of the pathogen.
References
- Suitability of Different Diagnostic Platforms for Virological Testing of Blood Samples from Cornea Donors. Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy (2022).
- Prevalence of blood-borne viral infections among autopsy cases in Jordan. Qatar Medical Journal (2016).
- Biological tests carried out on serum/plasma samples from donors of human body material for transplantation: Belgian experience and practical recommendations. Cell and Tissue Banking (2018).
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