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​This is the fourth in a series of articles that showcase the value of our scientific marketing team as a bridge between our insights and the greater healthcare community. You can start reading the series here. Read the previous article here.

When Marcia Cardoso, PhD, Senior Manager of Global Scientific Marketing at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, began her career in transfusion medicine, she recalls thinking blood banks functioned much like "blood factories" — technicians working side by side, manually separating blood. Results were reliant on technicians' experience and skills.

Now in her third decade of work in the field, Cardoso has seen whole blood collection come a long way with the development of technologies that have increased the quality, safety, and efficiency of blood donation and transfusion. Examples include the introduction of nucleic acid testing for virus screening (she was directly involved in its development), pathogen reduction technology*, and processing automation.

Today, Cardoso says we're on the cusp of another key turning point in whole blood collection. We recently sat down to get her take on what's changing and why.

You've mentioned that there are changes happening that relate to the automation of whole blood processing. Can you tell us more?

Absolutely. First, it's important to understand that full automation in whole blood processing — which includes balancing, centrifugation, separation, and expression — is not a brand-new technology. It has been around for about 10 years in some markets.** Widespread global adoption, though, has been slow.

We're at a point today where past roadblocks are being removed and adoption is increasing.

Can you explain what's different now?

When our whole blood automation technology at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies was initially introduced, we knew there would be obstacles to overcome. For instance, blood centers had spent considerable resources on staffing for manual processing and on their existing devices and systems. Full-automation technology would require additional investment, and it didn't necessarily fit into those existing systems.

Now, the blood collection machines purchased before are a decade or more old. Blood centers are often finding that they need to invest again. This gives them the opportunity to move toward more modern whole blood processing technology.

In addition, present-day labor factors, such as staffing shortages and high turnover, are playing a role. Manual processing relies heavily on hands-on work and requires experienced teams. Blood centers may be challenged to find and train staff members to the levels necessary for consistent, high-quality blood products via manual processing. So automated whole blood processing, in which so much of the work is done by sensors and technology, can help.

How prevalent is the use of automated whole blood processing today?

A good gauge for the state of worldwide adoption is the use of our automated processing technology offered here at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies. We have more than 500 of our Reveos® Automated Blood Processing Systems in use in 48 countries.¹ That number is continuing to increase. The majority are used in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.¹

Let's talk a little more about the benefits of automated whole blood processing for blood donation facilities.

This is actually one of the goals of our scientific marketing team — to share the evidence-based value of automation technology.

One critical benefit is reducing waste due to human error and other manual operational issues. One​ of our recent publications showed how automated whole blood processing decreased waste in comparison to a manual collection system. Of course, the loss of even one whole blood donation can be significant — it's a voluntary donation, it could be serving multiple patients, and in many places, a waste like that could impact patient access to a life-saving transfusion.

Also, automation can help with process control and increase product quality, which can limit the number of products that do not meet the minimum quality requirements.

Overall, we've found that the automation of whole blood processing leads to consistent, high-quality products, higher yields, optimized workflows, reinforcement of Good Manufacturing Practices, and even lab space savings.*** (Read through the research literature list here.)

What are your final thoughts on whole blood collection? Could it replace the need for apheresis collections?

In my opinion, adequate blood supply will always be based on both apheresis and whole blood donations. In the case of apheresis collections, sometimes you need platelets with specific markers for a certain patient. In this case, once a donor with these markers is identified, collecting one or multiple transfusion doses of these specific, patient-compatible platelets is possible through apheresis. Whole blood collection would not yield the needed transfusion dose from this one specific donor.

The big picture is that you need both types of collection to meet the demands of hospitals, to be able to offer the right products to patients, and to offer high-quality and safe products to these patients.

And ultimately, the more automated we can make the processes, the better for blood centers, health systems, and patients.

Learn more about the state of automation in whole blood processing.

Read more of Cardoso's thoughts on automation in transfusion medicine in a recently published commentary in the Advances in Robotics & Automation Technology journal.

Coming up next: More insights on connected software and how it can simplify processes to improve the job experience of laboratory staff.

* The Mirasol PRT system is not approved for sale in the U.S. It is available in select markets.

**The Reveos® Automated Blood Processing System is not cleared for sale in the U.S. It is available in select markets.

***As compared to manual processing; data on file at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.

¹ Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies. History and Global Use of the Reveos^® Automated Blood Processing System. September 2022. Part number BC-REVE-00334.

BIO:

Marcia Cardoso, PhD, has served as Senior Manager, Global Scientific Marketing, Europe, at Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies since 2011. As an internationally recognized expert in transfusion medicine, she has three decades of both academic and commercial experience in the development of biological and medical device products and technologies. She has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific papers and abstracts and holds one patent. She has served on and led numerous international working committees related to transfusion medicine and blood safety.