| Miles Inc, Covina, CA 94701.
The procedures used in the preparation of blood components together
with the processes used in the manufacture of multiple blood bag
systems impose a unique combination of requirements that severely
limits the selection of plastics. Plasticized PVC, the plastic used
in the first blood bags introduced by Carl Walter over 40 years
ago, remains the material of choice today. Blood bag material research
has focused on two areas: (1) the development of containers with
increased gas permeability for the storage of platelet concentrates;
and (2) the reduction or elimination of plasticizer contamination
of stored blood components. This research has led to the development
of several second-generation containers that have improved the quality
and extended the allowable storage period of platelet transfusion
products. Plastics virtually free of extractives are available for
the storage of platelets and plasma, but elimination of plasticizers
from RBC products has not yet been achieved. |