Abstract: Since the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) broke out in China at the end of 2019 and has been going around the world, it has become a global new public health threat. Scientists have had a preliminary understanding of the new coronavirus, and the research on the transmission route is getting deeper and deeper. It has been noted that SARS-CoV-2 has a long incubation period and a large number of asymptomatic infections, which is undoubtedly a major challenge to current blood safety. Is there any possibility that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted through blood transfusion? How do we ensure the safety of transfusion in clinical during epidemic prevention and reduce the risks of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through blood transfusion? These are the major problems that the blood collection and supply agencies care about. As there has never been reported that respiratory borne virus can be transmitted through blood products, the risk that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via blood transfusion is currently considered theoretically, based on the studies on acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), both of which are caused by coronavirus infection as well. During the special period of time, the blood collection and supply institutions can take actions voluntarily to conduct intervention measures to minimize virus transmission through blood transfusion and eliminate people's panic on blood safety.

Key words: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Blood safety