Jennifer Ficenec on BCA’s Commitment to Upcycling ‘Expired’ or ‘Spare’ Blood Components
Jennifer Ficenec, Executive Vice President at Blood Centers of America, shared on LinkedIn:
”Behind the scenes – BCA’s commitment to upcycling ‘expired’ or ‘spare’ blood components
Across the world, patients and the hospitals which treat them, rely heavily on donated blood.
Donors come to blood centers to give generously their time and blood to save lives of others.
Hence, it is important to us that each drop of donated blood gets used wherever possible.
We have invested heavily in predicting utilization rates and in distributed resource management to ensure we always have just a little more blood in inventory than needed every day of the year.
The time window during which the blood or any of its components can be used for transfusion differs for each component.
When that window expires, our resource management and supply chain teams then kick in to repurpose what is left for other purposes in life science research, process development, testing, or product manufacturing.
Pooled plasma is one example of the ways we repurpose unused blood components for uses other than blood transfusion.
Plasma derived medicines
Fractionators process pooled plasma to extract and purify life-saving proteins, such as:
- Immunoglobulins (IVIG) → for immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases
- Clotting factors (Factor VIII, IX) → for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders
- Albumin → for burns, trauma, and liver disease support
Ensuring uniformity and safety
Combining plasma from many donors averages out variations in protein levels between individuals. Large batches allow more extensive pathogen testing.
Research and Manufacturing
Research organizations, medical device companies test equipment (e.g. dialysis machines, filters), develop new plasma-based therapies or train lab staff to handle plasma.
LRS chambers
LRS chambers are another example of repurposing donated cells. LRS chambers are part of the donor-specific consumable kit used in plateletpheresis collections.
The chamber is designed to capture a high percentage of the leukocytes to lower the immune response after platelet infusion.
The chambers are rich in leukocytes with a low neutrophil count.
This means they are a valuable source of white blood cells which are highly sought after for immunological or cell therapy research.
As a fresh product it is shipped to researchers the same or the next-day.
It has been shown that these chambers are a better source of leukocytes and PBMCs than cells collected on demand and provided in leukopaks or buffy coats.
At BCA, we are committed to using every component of donated blood possible.
Interested in “upcycled” products such as LRS chambers?
Check for more.
Follow us for more news and education on cell therapy.”
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