TSR.ch (Switzerland): Lausanne Tests New Blood Cleansing Technology

TRANSCRIPT:

To give blood is also to give one's time: 20 minutes for red cells and an hour and a half for platelets. However, since the 10th of January, a new method of sterilizing platelets reduces time and risks.

Prof. Jean-Daniel Tissot, Chef Service de Transfusion, Swiss Red Cross Lausanne:
Thanks to this new technology, we will be able to collect platelets from whole blood. In this way, we will have much more flexibility in the use of blood products and we will make a better use of the time of people giving whole blood.

TSR.ch:
In blood, we collect red cells, plasma and platelets. Platelets can only be conserved for 5 days in ambient temperature, an ideal medium for bacteria and other parasites. Such contamination cost the life of a four year old child who obtained a transfusion last year. In Switzerland, a person dies every 10 years from getting contaminated platelets-- in transfusions that are most of all targeting patients suffering from leukemia or from a deficiency of bone marrow.

Lausanne, Zurich and Basel are testing a method which makes possible disinfecting these platelets in UVA light.

Dr. Niels Lion, Ingénieur en Hématologie, Swiss Red Cross Lausanne:
In this instrument there is a synthetic product which will react with everything that contains DNA -- whether viruses, bacteria or parasites -- and which, under UV illumination, will bind DNA and prevent all growth of contaminants.

TSR.ch:
Platelets free from all viruses. Does this mean that HIV positive persons will be able to give their blood?

Prof. Jean-Daniel Tissot, Chef Service de Transfusion, Swiss Red Cross Lausanne:
No, unfortunately, because we are not able to sterilize all products. Red blood cells and plasma remain produced in the same way. It's only platelets that we treat this way.

TSR.ch:
Swiss Medic has made this technique mandatory as soon as 2012, with a 6 million investment to prevent deaths from contaminated blood.