Medicine: Safer Plasma

Blood plasma pooled from many donors can be rendered free of the dangerous hepatitis virus if kept at room temperature for six months. University of Cincinnati researchers reported in the A.M.A. Journal after a four-year study. The finding means that plasma can safely be given promptly to battle casualties or accident victims. Also, since the plasma can be kept indefinitely, much blood and plasma now wasted can be put to use. Still not known: how to make whole blood safe from hepatitis virus.