A Transportable Pathogen Reduction System for Treatment of Whole Blood
Posted October 12, 2011
Raymond Goodrich, Ph.D., CaridianBCT Biotechnologies, Lakewood, Colorado
During combat, fresh whole blood (FWB) is used to treat life-threatening blood loss resulting from traumatic injuries when screened blood components are unavailable. While FWB may be critical in saving the lives of injured warriors, it is often transfused without any donor screening, nor standard viral testing. Additionally, FWB is used without leukoreduction, which introduces a large number of viable white blood cells into severely injured patients, potentially increasing the rate of infections among other serious immunological complications.
Dr. Raymond Goodrich and his research group, recipients of a Fiscal Year 2008 Deployment Related Medical Research Program Advanced Technology/Therapeutic Development Award, aim to develop a portable, disposable device for pathogen reduction in FWB which will minimize the risk of infectious disease transmission as well as potential adverse immunological affects of bypassing leukoreduction. With the award, Dr. Goodrich and his team are developing a prototype for the device (named the Mirasol System for Whole Blood) which uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) and UV light to rapidly inactivate pathogens and leukocytes in whole blood. Validation and optimization studies are being conducted for the device's effectiveness against pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Dr. Goodrich plans on assessing the quality and safety of FWB for use in patients following Mirasol System treatment under various storage conditions. When completed, the Mirasol System will undergo operational testing in simulated combat environments.Links:
During combat, fresh whole blood (FWB) is used to treat life-threatening blood loss resulting from traumatic injuries when screened blood components are unavailable. While FWB may be critical in saving the lives of injured warriors, it is often transfused without any donor screening, nor standard viral testing. Additionally, FWB is used without leukoreduction, which introduces a large number of viable white blood cells into severely injured patients, potentially increasing the rate of infections among other serious immunological complications.