News Summary
The San Diego Blood Bank has pioneered the use of the Reveos centrifuge system, becoming the first in California to implement this advanced blood processing technology. The system improves efficiency by eliminating manual processing steps and increases daily unit processing by 50%. As a leader in blood technology, the bank aims to better supply critical blood components for medical treatments, particularly benefiting cancer patients while ensuring no layoffs during the transition to automated operations.
San Diego has made significant strides in blood processing technology as the San Diego Blood Bank becomes the first in California and among the first in the nation to implement a high-tech centrifuge system known as Reveos. This innovative system is designed to revolutionize blood collection and processing, greatly enhancing efficiency and capabilities within the facility.
The Reveos system is capable of spinning four units of whole blood simultaneously, eliminating the need for manual processing steps that have historically been a time-consuming part of blood separation. The technology operates at speeds ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 revolutions per minute, allowing for far greater efficiency in generating different blood components.
With three centrifuge machines operational daily, the San Diego Blood Bank can now process approximately 60 donated units of whole blood each day. This represents a 50% improvement in processing efficiency compared to previous methods. Additionally, the new automation not only streamlines the process but also allows for increased blood collection capabilities at four of the bank’s ten collection centers.
While the new system significantly enhances processing speed and efficiency, the San Diego Blood Bank plans to continue using current manual methods for certain tasks during the transition period to fully automated operations. One of the primary advantages of this new technology is its ability to better separate critical components of the blood: platelets and white blood cells. These components are essential for various medical treatments, particularly for cancer patients and research purposes.
Traditionally, blood banks have relied on manual methods to separate these components, which proved to be inefficient and labor-intensive. Platelets and white blood cells comprise only about 1% of the total volume of a blood unit, making their separation less feasible under conventional processes. However, the Reveos system has made it practical to collect sufficient volumes of platelets from multiple blood units, thereby facilitating their separation more efficiently.
In terms of resource utilization, it typically takes five units of whole blood to produce a single unit of platelets through a pooling process. The repurposing of existing staff involved in the former methods of separation means there will be no layoffs as the bank transitions to more automated processes. Employees will be redirected to focus on the pooling of platelets—a task that was previously not widely adopted due to risks of infection. Nevertheless, improvements in testing have increased the safety of pooling practices.
In light of recent FDA guidelines issued in 2021, detection methods for infectious agents in pooled blood products have improved significantly. As a result, two local hospitals have begun accepting pooled platelets, with two additional facilities in the process of adopting this practice. According to the Chief Medical Officer at the San Diego Blood Bank, research and real-world observations suggest no clinically significant difference in risks associated with the current pooling practices compared to previous methods.
This advancement in blood processing technology at the San Diego Blood Bank positions the facility as a leader in the state and across the country. By harnessing the power of automation, the bank aims to improve the quality and availability of blood products for patients in need while addressing the pressing demand for these vital resources.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune: New System Spins Up Productivity at San Diego Blood Bank
- Laughing Place: Fantastic Four Swag Blood Drive
- San Diego Union Tribune: Vaccines & Cancer Benefit
- MobiHealthNews: Truvian Health Raises $74M for Automated Blood Diagnostics
- BioInformant: Unbelievable Advances in Cord Blood Processing
- Wikipedia: Blood Bank
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
