Customer Profile: Blood Transfusion Center of Slovenia

Center Profile
The Blood Transfusion Center of Slovenia located in Ljubljana is part of the Slovenian Blood Transfusion Service (BTCS/ZTM) and serves as the national reference center for the country. The BTCS/ZTM coordinates and monitors all activities related to donor selection, collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution of blood and blood components for Slovenia. The BTCS provides blood components for public hospitals and private clinics, including the Oncology Institute of Ljubljana.

Production Lab
INTERCEPT processing at the BTCS requires less than 25m². The blood center takes advantage of the stackable design of the INTERCEPT illuminator to reduce the overall space requirements for treatment. The illuminators include a tray-tilt feature which facilitates loading and unloading of products into the upper illuminator, as well as routine cleaning. Locating the INTERCEPT treatment room proximate to the platelet preparation room maximizes the center’s efficiency.

INTERCEPT Workflow
The BTCS INTERCEPT treats both apheresis and buffy coat platelets. As depicted below, collections generally occur in the morning and early afternoon. Apheresis platelets undergo pathogen inactivation the same day as collection. Platelets prepared via the buffy coat method are pooled and INTERCEPT treated on Day 1.

INTERCEPT Validation Results
Prior to implementing INTERCEPT in routine use, the BTCS validated the treatment process in their center for both apheresis and buffy coat platelets. The results met local requirements for suitable transfusion products. The BTCS now pathogen inactivates 100% of their platelet units with the INTERCEPT Blood System.