Originally Published MDDI November 2001

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Ensuring Blood Supplies in Uncertain Times

In the aftermath of the attacks on New York City and the Pentagon, an unprecedented number of Americans donated whole blood to help meet the needs of victims and rescuers alike. A few weeks later, radio personality Paul Harvey suggested inaccurately that millions of units would be "dumped" because of the donated blood's short shelf life of 42 days.

Listeners began calling the American Red Cross (ARC) to see if they had waited in long lines to donate blood that would be dumped. Callers were assured that the ARC has been freezing blood for 30 years. Harvey broadcast a clarification of his comments on a subsequent program.

The ARC explains that blood donated after September 11 was frozen if not immediately needed. The organization adds that it is working with FDA to improve freezing and thawing techniques that could improve blood services. The ARC also says it is assessing new technology to create an inventory of frozen blood that can be stored in a number of sites around the country and tapped in an emergency.

As part of this effort, the organization recently contracted with Haemonetics Corp. (Braintree, MA) to use the firm's latest blood freezing technology to expand its frozen blood storage capability. Like currently available techniques, Haemonetics' ACP 215 cell processing system allows red blood cells to be frozen for as long as 10 years and to thaw cells as needed. Previous technologies, however, required thawed blood to be used within 24 hours after thawing or be discarded. The company explains that by automating the blood freezing process in a closed-circuit disposable system that eliminates exposure to air or bacterial contaminants, the shelf life of thawed blood can be extended to 14 days.

Using a closed-circuit system, the ACP 215 cell processing device aids supply management by extending the shelf life of thawed blood to 14 days.

Prior to freezing, glycerol is added to the blood bag through sterile, plastic tubing to protect the cells from damage. The blood is then placed in a freezer for long-term storage. After defrosting the blood, the device pumps a cleansing agent into the bag to remove the glycerol, making the blood safe for transfusion to a patient.

James L. Peterson, Haemonetics' president and CEO explains that, "The enormously generous outpouring of donors created blood inventory levels that could be leveraged to maximize frozen blood programs." He believes that the firm's technology will enable blood collection and storage facilities to ensure adequate levels of blood availability. The concept of freezing blood supplies is particularly important in preserving units of rare blood types, collected at times of surplus, to keep in reserve for use during shortages.

The frozen blood market is estimated to be relatively small at present, representing a minor portion of all blood transfused in the United States. Haemonetics speculates that frozen blood programs have been limited by the short shelf life of thawed blood. The company notes, however, that the United States has experienced significant localized blood shortages in recent years as a result of either increased demand or decreased supplies. Such shortages emphasize the importance of developing methods for managing frozen blood inventories.

The company believes that within a few years this new generation of laboratory processing equipment and disposables will also be used for pathogen inactivation of red blood cells. The firm is collaborating with V.I. Technologies Inc. (Watertown, MA) to develop pathogen inactivation methods that can increase the safety of red cell units transfused to patients.

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