Blood Bank of Delmarva producing platelets

The Blood Bank of Delmarva, which provides blood transfusion products and services to patients and hospitals in the Delmarva region, is producing pathogen-reduced platelets.

The blood bank was the first blood center to sign an agreement with Cerus Corporation following the FDA approval of its INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma in December 2014.

BBD supplies approximately 13,000 platelet and 21,000 plasma units per year.

The INTERCEPT Blood System is designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections by inactivating many pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in donated blood. The nucleic acid targeting mechanism is designed to inactivate threats such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, West Nile virus and bacteria, as well as emerging pathogens such as Chikungunya, Malaria and Dengue.

“I am pleased that BBD is able to offer pathogen-reduced platelets to our hospitals and their patients. This product provides a greater level of safety by lowering the risk for transfusion-transmitted infections,” says Chris Nare, the blood bank’s lead executive of laboratory services and distribution.

“The INTERCEPT product closely aligns with our vision of being a best-in-class blood bank…Offering pathogen-reduced platelets to the hospitals we serve is a major milestone of our ongoing focus on innovation that supports patient well being,” said blood bank CEO Roy Roper.