MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (132/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 25
June 2008
Armed Forces
medical staff on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are being
equipped with new blood supply kit which means badly injured
troops can be treated more effectively.
The new equipment means combat medics can quickly call on an
improved supply of "platelets" - a key part of human
blood vital in generating blood clots which is used to help stop
massive loss of blood caused by injuries.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor said:
"Our medics on operations are saving more lives than ever
before and it is thanks to advances in technology and research
which makes this possible. I am delighted that this hi-tech, life
saving machine has been accepted into service by our medical teams
serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is already proving its worth."
Previously the method of providing platelets in an emergency was
to take whole blood from previously screened volunteers. However
four donors are needed to produce one adult dose and once a donor
has donated they cannot donate again for at least 12 weeks. The
new Apheresis procedure produces an adult dose of platelets, from
a single donor, in approximately 45mins. As the process only
takes platelets, the donor has no ill effects and can donate again
within 14 days.
Unveiling the hi tech machine at DVD, DE&S Chief of Defence
Materiel Land, Lt General Dick Applegate said
"Medical care on operations is rightly recognised as being
second to none. Blood is an essential part of the military supply
chain and the demand for platelets has increased as we are using a
more aggressive approach in the treatment of massive blood loss.
Using the new machine will give our medics increased flexibility
during urgent requirements."
Staff Sgt Paul Lund who is the SNCO on the blood supply team added
"It is the generosity of the volunteer donors who willingly
donate platelets linked with the skills of the Apheresis teams
that ensure Platelet Apheresis is an effective and versatile tool
that the clinicians can out to good use by providing appropriate
blood component therapy when needed. This has been demonstrated on
at least 3 occasions since its introduction in February when
injured troops have received platelets donated by volunteers on
operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
The machines are made by Glasgow based Haemonetics UK Ltd. They
are widely used in the National Blood Service and by the US
Military Medical Services.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
* Currently, platelets that are vital in the clotting process are
supplied from the UK to the operational theatres but only have a
shelf life of five days. The new Apheresis machines will address
any shortfall of platelets during incidents of massive blood loss,
by automatically separating the donor's red cells, platelets
and plasma, collecting the platelets for use and returning the red
cells and plasma to the donor.
* The Apheresis process is a collaboration of both Biomedical
Scientists (BMS) and Registered Nurses (RN). The BMS sets up the
machine, undertakes the donor selection procedure and performs the
quality monitoring of the collected platelets. The RN does the
venepuncture and donor care. Medical Officer support is available
if required.
* Each machine costs £500,000 including support costs and training.
* Although the technique is not new, the use of Apheresis in the
operational environment is novel for the UK Armed Forces.
* The whole blood from the donor is collected into a bowl (Latham
Bowl), via a single needle. The bowl is centrifuged and because of
the differing densities of the blood components they separate out
into layers. An optical sensor, on the top of the bowl, triggers
valves to open and diverts the plasma into a collecting bag, once
the next layer is detected, which contains the white cells and
platelets, this is diverted to another bag. The white cells are
removed by a leuco-depletion filter leaving just the platelets in
the bag. The remaining red cells and the plasma are then returned
to the donor through the same needle. This is done on a number of
cycles to achieve an adult dose. The needle, bowl and the
collecting bags are a sterile secure system and are only used once.
* Support in theatre is provided by trained military technicians
who do basic maintenance. Daily user maintenance is undertaken by
the BMS. In the event of problems that cannot be resolved by the
MDSS support, the machine would be returned to the UK. There are
back up machines in UK which can be sent out if required. Both
theatres have two machines.