Customer Profile: Centro de Hemoterapia y Hemodonación de Castilla y León (CHEMCYL)

Center Profile
Centro de Hemoterapia y Hemodonación de Castilla y León (CHEMCYL) is a non-profit, publicly owned foundation which manages all aspects of collection, processing, and distribution of blood and blood components to meet the needs of the community of Castilla y León which includes 32 public and private hospitals distributed through the 9 provinces. CHEMCYL also serves as a reference center for diagnosis of hematological disorders. Of significant importance to the foundation is its ability to maintain a self-sufficient supply of blood products which it consistently achieves for all blood types. The center adheres to exceedingly high quality and safety programs and in 2008 was honored with the award for the Best Quality & Modernization Practices of the Foundation. CHEMCYL produces buffy coat platelets as well as apheresis platelets; their experience demonstrates INTERCEPT’s compatibility with various platelet collection and separation platforms (Trima, TACSI, Compomat G4).

Production Lab
INTERCEPT processing at CHEMCYL requires space which is less than a tenth of the total space required for all blood components preparation and storage. The blood center uses two INTERCEPT Illuminators which provide sufficient throughput and flexibility to perform, each year for the treatment of 9.000 platelet units. 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 area proximate to the platelet preparation area maximizes the center’s efficiency.

INTERCEPT Workflow
CHEMCYL treats both apheresis and buffy coat platelets. As depicted below, collections occur the entire day up to 9pm, giving the greatest flexibility for donors to come in and donate. Also, overnight INTERCEPT treatment of the apheresis platelet concentrates allows for a product release the next day at 9 am. Platelets prepared via the buffy coat method are pooled and INTERCEPT treated on Day 1. This workflow organization has greatly contributed to the center’s ability to maintain a self-sufficient supply of platelets across the region.
 

INTERCEPT Quality Control Results
Since 2008, CHEMCYL pathogen inactivates 100% of their apheresis and buffy-coat derived platelet units with the INTERCEPT Blood System. Quality Control measurements are performed on a routine basis to monitor fulfillment of the end products characteristics with the center requirements.