A blood container for storage of blood and blood components is disclosed. The invention comprises a blood container and a multiple blood bag system which includes a donor bag and one or more satellite bags connected by flexible tubing. The blood bag is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plasticized with a blend of plasticizers comprising a plasticizer resistant to blood extraction such as a triester of trimellitic acid and a 7-10 carbon alcohol and a blood extractable plasticizer such as a dioctyl phthalate or dioctyl adipate and is suitable for long term storage of whole blood, red cells and platelets. The blood container is made of a thin material which contains a plasticizer composition extractable at much lower levels by blood or plasma than conventional phalate plasticized PVC. Blood and blood components processed or stored in the blood bags will exhibit relatively low levels of contamination by plasticizer.
A process for detecting accidental contact body fluid samples includes the addition of a small amount of a fluorescent chemical to the body fluid sample, the fluorescent chemical serving as a marker detectable upon exposure to ultraviolet light, Accordingly, any spills of the body fluid sample on exposed surfaces can be readily visually detected upon illuminating those surfaces with an ultraviolet light. Likewise, a process for detecting accidental exposure to a body fluid by skin surface protected by gloves or another substantially fluid impervious covering comprises submerging the gloved or otherwise covered skin surface into a fluorescent fluid, removing the glove or other covering and then illuminating the skin surface with an ultraviolet light to visually detect any fluorescent spots caused by holes or other leaks through the glove or other covering.
A lyophilization bag is provided in which a fluid, such as blood, may be introduced, lyophilized without collapsing the bag, stored, reconstituted and distributed from the bag without intermediate transfer of the useful contents from the bag.
2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol is added to blood platelet storage containers at a sufficient level to maintain pH stability of blood platelets within the suitable range (pH 7.2 to 7.4) for use in blood transfusions.
Improved flexible film and tubing for medical products manufactured from a PVC compound, comprising an amount of ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) PVC resin having an inherent viscosity ranging from about 1.25 to about 2.00, most preferably about 1.71, and about 43 to about 57 percent by weight of a medically acceptable plasticizer, most preferably about 53 percent, such as tri (2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TOTM).
The present invention relates to a storage device and method for the long-term storage of blood and, more particularly, to a blood storage device and method capable of removing oxygen from the stored blood and thereby prolonging the storage life of the deoxygenated blood.
