CaridianBCT Solutions for Platelets
Trima Accel Collection System
COBE Spectra Apheresis System
Atreus Whole Blood Processing System
OrbiSac System
Platelets
First line of defense for clotting
Platelets promote blood clotting. They are crucial to health — patients with low platelet counts have a difficult time controlling bleeding.
Platelets are relatively colorless cells that represent the smallest percentage of whole blood volume. In fact, when you make a whole blood donation, you're only contributing a fraction of the amount of platelets needed for a single platelet transfusion. You must combine the platelets from five to eight whole blood donations to make a single dose of platelets for transfusion. The resulting platelet dose is called a pooled platelet product.
Collecting platelets through automation
Platelet apheresis, or automated donations allows a single donor to give enough platelets to make one transfusable platelet product. An apheresis donation, performed on blood collection systems such as the Trima Accel Collection System and the COBE Spectra Apheresis System, collect only the needed components from a donor and returns the remainder of the blood back to the donor. This type of donation gives blood centers the ability to provide single-donor platelets (rather than a pooled platelet product), which reduces patient exposure to multiple donors and reduces the risk of transfusion related complications.
Processing platelets through automation
Whole blood collections are separated into the three components — platelets, red blood cells, and plasma. Historically this separation process has been relatively manual and required multiple steps. The Atreus System provides a self-contained, automated manufacturing system to process blood components from whole blood units. The OrbiSac System, developed to handle the buffy coat process, automates the production of platelets. NOTE: OrbiSac is not available for sale in the U.S.
Who needs platelets?
Children and adults with cancer or leukemia typically receive platelet transfusions. Open-heart surgery patients as well as victims of traumatic injuries usually need platelets, too. Over the course of treatment, these patients may receive many platelet transfusions.
How long do donated platelets last?
Platelets are very fragile and must be stored at room temperature, making them susceptible to the rapid growth of any bacteria present in the product. To maintain platelet quality and to minimize the risk for severe septic reactions due to bacterial contamination, current regulations and standard practices typically require transfusion of donated platelets within five days of collection.
Find out more about bacterial testing of platelet products, and what CaridianBCT has to offer in this area.
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