There is a continuing demand for safer, higher quality blood through leukoreduction (filtering of white cells from blood.)

A blood component that has been rid of most of the white cells ordinarily found in red cells or platelets is believed to be a safer blood component because it is less likely to cause patient reactions, including fevers and chills. This blood component is called a filtered, or leukoreduced blood component (leukocyte is a white cell).

The demand for "universal" leukoreduction of all cellular blood components is intensifying. Many countries, including France, UK, Canada and Portugal legally require red cells and platelets to be leukoreduced before they are transfused. FDA does not mandate leukoreduction at this time but has recommended that leukoreduced blood components be used “whenever feasible” and expects leukoreduction to become industry standard. Currently most of the blood in the U.S. is leukoreduced.

Risks of Transfusions
Hepatitis C	1:300,000 - 500,000
Hepatitis B	1:70,000 - 200,000
HIV	1:800,000
Plane Crash	1:500,000
Unknown Virus	1:?
Bacteria	# 1 cause of death from transfusion

The quest for a safer blood supply has advanced beyond transfusing components that have been leukoreduced. Today’s blood testing systems have arguably created the safest blood supply ever available to patients, but the chart above reveals why tests may not be enough. Blood is not tested for bacteria before it is transfused, and the risk of bacterial contamination in connection with a transfusion, which can be a fatal reaction, is significantly higher than the risk of HIV or even hepatitis transmission.

An even greater concern is that our blood safety system largely relies on detecting those pathogens we have already identified. As with the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, the greatest fear is an unknown virus that is transmissible via blood transfusion. This is the basis for a growing industry consensus that ultimately the safest blood will be blood that has been subject to a treatment that inactivates all pathogens – viruses and bacteria - yet is safe enough not to harm patients who ultimately receive the treated blood. This is the future.

Haemonetics' Response: Improved Safety Through Technology

Haemonetics has introduced automated collection systems with an inline leukoreduction filter, building the leukoreduction process into the blood collection process.

Separately, Haemonetics is collaborating with V.I. Technologies (VITEX) on the development of a pathogen inactivation system to inactivate viruses and bacteria in red blood cells. Haemonetics is also partnering with Baxter to offer pathogen inactivation technology to Haemonetics' platelet collection customers.