Novel Device Detects Bacteria in Donated Blood

Bacteria are the most common infectious agents transmitted by blood and thus represent a greater threat to public health than viruses such as HIV and hepatitis. The new device, called BDS, measures oxygen in a sample obtained from a platelet unit. Because bacteria consume oxygen, abnormally low levels of oxygen in the platelet sample indicate the presence of bacteria, so contaminated platelets can be discarded. The investigators evaluated those bacteria species responsible for almost all of the deaths that result from bacterially contaminated platelets. The BDS detected bacterial contamination in every case, with no false-positives. The BDS is the product of Pall Corp. (East Hills, NY, USA).

"Bacteria can be present in platelets in very low numbers and different strains can multiply at different rates, thereby making detection difficult,” said Dr. Michael R. Jacobs, one of the researchers. "That is why this method holds so much promise. If blood banks have the technology to detect bacteria before platelets are used for transfusion, it follows that fewer patients will receive contaminated blood and develop an illness.”




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