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Why INTERCEPT

Platelet Availability

Every Two Seconds Someone in the US Needs Blood and/or Platelets1

But the availability of blood components faces a myriad of challenges:

  • an aging donor population paired with the prevalence of chronic disease2
  • the threat of emerging pathogens and impact on donor retention3,4
  • short-shelf life and delayed time to release for platelets5-7

Platelet Sustainability and Pandemic Preparedness

The continued emergence of new pathogens makes it a challenge to ensure blood safety through testing alone. Test development and regulatory approvals take time to develop, continual addition of incremental tests becomes increasingly costly, and, even in the presence of a test, emerging outbreaks can adversely impact platelet availability.

Maintain continuity of patient care with platelets treated with the INTERCEPT® Blood System Pathogen Reduction System (INTERCEPT Platelets) by helping to ensure platelet transfusions remain safe and accessible to patients during outbreaks or epidemics.8-10

Platelet Shelf-Life and Receipt of Transfusion-Ready Platelets

Platelets are susceptible to bacterial growth because they are stored at room temperature, which means a limited shelf-life. Furthermore, cultured/tested platelets may adversely impact availability with delayed time to release.5-7

The INTERCEPT Blood System helps enable the receipt of ready-to-transfuse platelets sooner with the avoidance of bacterial testing product holds.11,12

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References:

  1. American Red Cross. “Blood Supply Facts”. 2024. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html.
  2. Stubbs JR et al. Transfusion. 2021 Jan;61(1):303-312.
  3. Howard, C et al Emerging Microbes and Infections, 2012 1(e46).
  4. Diuk-Wasser, M Scientific American, A Division of Nature America 2013.
  5. Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services to Enhance the Safety and Availability of Platelets for Transfusion: Guidance for Industry US FDA; Dec 2020.
  6. Hong, H Northwell Health AABB 2022. Oral AM22.
  7. Paradiso, S New York Blood Center Enterprises. AABB 2022. Oral AM22_60.
  8. The INTERCEPT Blood System for Platelets Package Insert, Cerus Corporation.
  9. Allain, J.P., et al., Transfus Med Rev, 2005. 19(2): p. 110-26.
  10. Rasongles P, et al. Transfusion 2009; 49: 1083-91.
  11. Collier, T. and Chrebtow , V. “Impact of Pathogen Reduction (PR) vs. LVDS Testing on Platelet Availability: A Study Based on Real-World Experience”. AABB 2022. Poster P-IV-8.
  12. Prichard, A.B., et al. “Comparing Usable Shelf-Life of Pathogen Reduced Platelets vs. LVDS Screened Platelets”. AABB 2022. Poster P-IV-2.