A new study conducted by the American Red Cross and the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk Va., et.al., found that red blood cells filtered through the Leukotrap Affinity Prion Reduction Filter System retain their therapeutic value and quality after 42 days of storage. The samples tested showed mean values of 85.0 and 82.9 percent in vivo red cell recovery, exceeding the FDA required mean of 75 percent for stored red cells. Post-storage hemolysis (breakdown of red cell membrane) values were well below the FDA maximum limit. The researchers concluded that both in vivo and in vitro results of this study indicate that leukoreduced red cell products filtered through the Pall system demonstrated acceptable quality for transfusion.
Sam Coker, Ph.D., Principal Scientist of Pall Corporation, presented results of research testing the filter against sporadic CJD, the most common form of prion disease that affects humans. The study, conducted with the Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Pathology of the New York University School of Medicine, showed a 99.9 percent reduction of the prion.
"This study, a first with a true human form of prion disease, provides additional confirmation of the performance of our technology to remove all types of prions that can adversely affect people," said Dr. Coker. The sporadic CJD study is one of a series of studies underscoring the filter's capability in reducing all types of prions from blood, including scrapie (a prion disease affecting sheep) and mouse-adapted human vCJD.
Dr. Coker also presented the results of research on the performance characteristics of the Pall Leukotrap Affinity Prion Reduction Filter under a range of different blood processing conditions, which may vary by country and blood center. The results showed that the new filter was effective in removing infectious scrapie prions from different preparations of red cell concentrates at different temperatures. In addition to prion removal, the study also measured the level of leukocyte reduction (resulting in removal of about 5 logs) and the quality of red cells before and after filtration, showing that normal cell qualities were maintained.
Pall developed the Pall Leukotrap Prion Affinity Reduction Filter System to help blood authorities around the world stop the transmission of prions as part of the Company's mission to help safeguard the global blood supply. Its prion technology is currently under evaluation by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and the English National Blood Service for integration into their respective practices as a blood safety measure to reduce the risk of vCJD prion transmission. Pall is continuing its prion research and development program to apply its technologies to meet the specific requirements of each nation throughout Europe, the epicenter of vCJD, followed by North America and Asia.
About Pall Corporation
Pall Corporation is the global leader in the rapidly growing field of filtration, separations and purification. Pall's business is organized around two broad markets: Life Sciences and Industrial. The Company provides leading-edge products to meet the demanding needs of customers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, transfusion medicine, semiconductor, water purification, aerospace and broad industrial markets. Total revenues for fiscal 2005 were $1.9 billion. The Company headquarters is in East Hills, New York with extensive operations throughout the world. Visit Pall at http://www.pall.com/.
Editors Notes:
Excellent In Vivo 42-Day Red Blood Cell Recovery and Low Hemolysis Using a New Filter Designed to Remove Prions, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Room 608.
Pall Leukotrap Affinity Filter Removed Human Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Prions from Red Cell Concentrates. Oct. 18, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Rm 608.
Performance Characteristics of Pall Leukotrap Affinity Prion Reduction Filter, Oct. 17-18, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Exhibit Hall F.
Media Contact:
Marcia Katz
Pall Corporation
Tel: (516) 801-9128
E-mail: Marcia_Katz@Pall.com